High Court orders restoration of schools' water

The High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday ordered that water supply to schools in Vanderbijlpark be reconnected, AfriForum said.

Head of education campaigns Carien Bloem said the court ordered the department of public works to pay outstanding property taxes for the schools, which had resulted in the water supply being cut.

"The department of public works must pay the taxes and the [Emfuleni Local] municipality must put on the water at the schools."

AfriForum and the Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools lodged an urgent application with the court to have the situation rectified.

Bloem said the water cuts came at the "worst time".

"Almost 15,000 children were affected while they were writing the June exams," she said.

According to AfriForum, there was proof that the schools had paid their water and electricity bills on time.

The department could not immediately be reached for comment, while the municipality was not immediately available to comment.