In many under-resourced communities across South Africa, frequent water cuts pose a serious challenge to school operations. Without water for ablution facilities, learners are often sent home, interrupting valuable classroom time, and compromising hygiene and safety. Recognising the urgent need for a sustainable solution, WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) hosted a Water Week activity recently at Tamaho Primary School as part of a Waterwise Eco-Schools Project.
Water tanks keep classrooms open
As part of the initiative four water tanks, sponsored by Wispeco Aluminium, were officially handed over, two each to Tamaho and Monde Primary School. These tanks will provide backup water supply to ablution blocks during periods of water outages, helping the schools remain operational and ensuring learners stay in class.
“Our learners have been losing critical school days simply because there’s no water to flush toilets,” said a school representative. “These tanks are more than infrastructure, they’re an assurance that learning continues, even when the taps run dry,” said Mrs Lindelwa Nqezo Tamaho Primary School, Principal.
WESSA representatives set the tone by highlighting South Africa’s growing water crisis and the importance of integrating water education and conservation into school life.
“This project reflects the essence of the WESSA Eco-Schools programme, enabling schools to take meaningful, local action for sustainability,” said Cindy-Lee Cloete, CEO of WESSA. “With Wispeco’s support, we’re going beyond infrastructure by cultivating a lasting culture of water awareness and environmental responsibility among learners and educators,” Cloete added.
Enabling the next generation of Water Stewards
Learners and teachers actively participated in a series of interactive water awareness activities led by WESSA facilitators. These included miniSASS, a citizen science tool for assessing river health through aquatic invertebrates, and tap water quality testing, which taught participants how to assess the safety of their drinking water. The day concluded with the planting of a waterwise succulent garden, reinforcing the importance of sustainable landscaping in water-scarce environments.
“As a business that relies heavily on water, we have prioritised conservation and recycling across our operations. It is equally important to engage the youth on the value of water. Donating these water tanks is just one step toward providing aid to schools in our community and empowering learners to take these lessons home.” said Landiwe Ngubo Wispeco Aluminium Corporate Citizenship Manager.
The collaboration also highlighted the strength of multi-sector partnerships in achieving sustainable development outcomes. Mr Dino Reddy from the Department of Basic Education Institutional Development Support Officer shared his support, “This project is especially significant for nearby schools, many led by women principals, our ‘Valley of the Queens.’ We encourage WESSA to expand its reach and suggest measures like added tank security and filtration systems for safe drinking water. Despite socio-economic challenges, learners have shown remarkable leadership, and we thank WESSA, Wispeco Aluminium, and the students for driving this impact forward.”
The spirit of collaboration, learning, and resilience was shared, and this initiative not only brought a solution to a pressing issue but also enabled learners to become eco-conscious water stewards in their schools and communities.
