A stressful era of draught has come to an end at Phalesane Primary School in Hammanskraal as learners will now have access to clean drinking water.
The school was identified by the African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) together with the Kekana Primary School and Mabu-A-Tlou Primary School in the same area, which will also receive clean drinking water.
Nicole Solomon, AECI social responsibility manager, said the project identified at least 10 schools in 2019 that the company would donate a clean water system to.
She said Phalesane was dependent on municipal tankers to deliver water for the past six years.
“Hammanskraal has been facing a persistent water crisis for many years,” said Solomon.
“The issues range from contaminated water to an unreliable supply, causing inconvenience and health concerns for the residents.
“This problem has persisted for over a decade, leaving the community desperate for a permanent solution.”
After identifying the school, the AECI started a project to drill boreholes and installed a water filtration systems that produces at least 120 000 litres of clean drinking water a day.
This is expected to be enough to sustain the whole school and promote healthy teaching and learning with better hygiene.
“As an organisation committed to education and water provision, the AECI recognised the importance of ensuring access to safe drinking water for the learners in Hammanskraal,” Solomon said.
She said the company did not only worry about the school but the community at large, adding that when news broke that the community was in need of clean drinking water, the company sprang into action.
It immediately started with the provision of water and rehydration sachets.
“We remain firm in our commitment towards uplifting rural communities and addressing the water, unemployment and poverty crisis embattling the country.
“We recognise that continued sustainable support is the only value we can advance the next generation,” she said.
The AECI also invested in a commercial bakery, food garden, and welding training in an effort to ensure a healthy environment for learners even outside school, and curb unemployment in the area.
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