No water, but school billed

Parents, teachers and the community are up in arms after Gen Piet Joubert School of Skills in Polokwane was billed nearly R400 000 for almost nine million litres of water - despite not having a functioning municipal water supply for over four years.

- Barry Viljoen

The school, which has more than 600 learners, including over 200 in hostels, has had to rely on unreliable water tanker deliveries since its connection was severed. The matter came to light after the institution, desperate to maintain other essential services, settled the disputed accounts for water it never received. Attempts to get answers or assistance from municipal officials reportedly fell on deaf ears.