• Diepsloot has reportedly been without electricity for a couple of days, which has affected water pressure, says the DA.
• The party is now calling on the Gauteng education department to shut down all schools in the area. 
• Spokesperson Steve Mabona says the department is aware of the situation.

The DA is calling on the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to close all schools in Diepsloot because of a lack of running water.

According to the DA's Khume Ramulifho, Diepsloot has been without electricity for about eight days, which has resulted in there being no pressure to pump running water for toilets and taps.  

"The water tanks are being delivered to the schools every day, but they cannot supply water for the toilets. The fact that there is no running water at these schools, and that both learners and teachers are unable to use the toilets and wash their hands, is unhygienic," said Ramulifho. 

READ |Gauteng farm school closed after mayor discovers there is no water for pupils

Ramulifho said the department should also engage with both the City of Johannesburg and Eskom to ensure that electricity is restored. This would solve the water pressure problem and it would ensure conducive learning and teaching.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the situation in Diepsloot and were considering the request.

"The MEC for Education has already raised the Eskom electricity challenge with the provincial command centre for intervention," Mabona said.

News24 reported last Thursday that 176 schools in Gauteng had been affected by Covid-19, MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed during the weekly provincial command council update.