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The DA has reported Sol Plaatje municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for failing to address damaging water leaks that are seriously affecting sporting facilities at Northern Cape High School, in Kimberley.

An oversight inspection to the school yesterday, revealed just how devastating the water leaks are that originate from Sol Plaatje’s waterworks department and the Newton Reservoir, located next to the school.

The leaks affecting the school are not new and have caused millions of rands worth of damages since 2016, when harm to the tennis courts and the field was found to be the result of regular flooding from the surface run-off water. The road surface in front of the school has subsequently also been badly stripped away, even resulting in motor vehicle accidents, while increasing threats to the netball courts, rugby fields, tennis courts and cricket nets persist.

Following Sol Plaatje’s failure to address the water leaks, the school previously constructed a sand barrier to stop the water from flooding the fields. This was a temporary solution and has since been washed away by the clean drinking water that flows into the school property.

Attempts by the DA to get a response from Sol Plaatje in respect of the ongoing damages being caused to the school, have been futile and it is increasingly clear that the municipality has no political will to try and address this specific problem.

I have therefore submitted a letter of complaint to the SAHRC and asked that they urgently investigate and make recommendations in respect of remedial action to be taken by Sol Plaatje municipality.

Despite water leaks in Sol Plaatje being an ongoing problem, they fail to be treated with the priority required. The DA therefore hopes that added pressure by the SAHRC will better direct Sol Plaatje’s actions towards bringing an end to the water-induced damages that are being experienced by Northern Cape High School.

Issued by Belinda Moses, Cllr - Sol Plaatje Municipality