The Western Cape Education Department has refuted claims that a vuil high school in Mitchells Plain is the reason why pupils became ill.
A teacher and some parents said the kids could not use the broken toilets, leaving boys to urinate on the staircases and under trees, while mice and rats were running amok inside the classrooms of Lentegeur High School.
They say workers have failed to clean classrooms, the toilets or the school grounds, forcing concerned teachers and pupils to do the dirty work themselves.
The WCED has refuted claims that a vuil high school in Mitchells Plain is the reason why pupils became ill. Picture supplied
The source says: “They didn’t want to open the boys' toilets and the boys had to pee on the staircase and under the tree.
“When the mice run under the pupils' feet, they scream inside the classroom.
“Children are getting infection because of the toilets, and even rakes and tools are stolen.
“The bins are overflowing.”
But WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the broken toilets were fixed on Friday and denied cleaning tools were stolen.
“The sewerage pipe was repaired on Friday. Girls used the hall and sick bay toilets,” Hammond says.
“All toilets were open and available to boys. No cleaning equipment were stolen and no illnesses were reported.
“The allegations are extremely concerning and have been reported to the district for follow-up.
“Schools are responsible for day-to-day monitoring and maintenance of ablution facilities and the purchasing of essential items such as soap, and to ensure they are made available in their schools, in line with the School Sanitation Guidelines.”