{"id":46995,"date":"2020-03-12T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T04:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T17:51:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T15:51:40","slug":"education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/","title":{"rendered":"Education takes back seat during water crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DRIVING through uMasizakhe and Kroonvale on any given day of the week, one is struck by the number of children of school-going age pushing trolleys, makeshift carts and wheelbarrows full of bottles and buckets of water. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to drought, vandalism and lack of maintenance to infrastructure in most Eastern Cape towns, a young generation regresses into being water carriers instead of water engineers. School takes a back seat, because water has to be carted into homes for everyday living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, lack of water causes a lot of absenteeism,\u201d said Basil Jacobs, acting principal at Lingcom Primary School in Kroonvale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His is not an enviable job, but Jacobs energetically and enthusiastically navigates his \u201cship\u201d past the many challenges brought on by the drought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe focus on what we CAN change, and on what has already been achieved,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do whatever we can \u2013 that is what we call the \u2018hidden curriculum\u2019,\u201d Jacobs said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving into Adelaide with Gift of the Givers\u2019 (GOTG) geohydrologist, Dr Gideon Groenewald, one doesn\u2019t have to wonder where to find Martyn Landmann\u2019s drilling team. A cloud of white dust billows high into the air above a local school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the verdict, Pheello?\u201d Groenewald consults the team leader as they inspect the heaps of rock lined up next to the rig. Pheello shakes his head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drill must be moved, but they\u2019re limited to remain within the school grounds. At least there\u2019s that, thanks to a visionary agreement between GOTG and the Department of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacobs also sang the praises of the department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are very supportive of our staff and learners. Among other things, they assist with a feeding scheme through which we are able to feed all 760 learners on a daily basis.\u201d The drought has taken a toll on the Eastern Cape economy. Thousands of farm workers have been laid off, and a lack of job opportunities in Karoo towns reflect the strangled economy. For many children, this will be the only meal they get today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The school is situated high against a mountainside, and running water is a long-forgotten luxury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFlushing toilets and washing hands are something our 760 learners no longer take for granted,\u201d Jacob admitted. But ever the strategist, Jacobs, learners, teachers and terrain staff keep the aged toilets squeaky clean by means of bucket and bottles of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause we teach our children that cleanliness is next to godliness,\u201d Jacobs maintained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe receive amazing support from GOTG, who regularly fills our JoJo tanks with drinking water,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I have taken the liberty of writing them a letter, requesting an intervention by means of drilling us our own borehole, so we can operate independently of the municipal supply.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Ntsika Secondary School in Makhanda (Grahamstown), GOTG struck \u201cwhite gold\u201d last year when a borehole yielding a million litres a day was sunk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cSuperbowl\u201d, as it was aptly dubbed, not only supplies Ntsika\u2019s learners, but has been the saving grace of many towns in the EC, thousands of litres in bottled water and tankers being distributed from here to towns where rivers and dams ran dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a borehole at Lingcom is highly unlikely to be another Superbowl, it will make a huge difference in time-saving for this school. Dr Groenewald has already sited a drilling spot, but the organisation\u2019s funds to intervene in Graaff-Reinet have been depleted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, \u201cWe keep them in our prayers,\u201d Groenewald said, not oblivious to the fact that miracles seem to follow wherever the organisation hits the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no shame in asking for help,\u201d Jacobs smiled. \u201cThe department goes out of their way to do what they can, as do GOTG. We do the same. It\u2019s like I told you: there\u2019s the official curriculum, and then there\u2019s the hidden curriculum. We do what we can with what we have.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It rings true, one realises, for everybody in this drought. Farmers, business owners and residents all adapt, doing what they can with what they have, until one day, enough rain falls again to fill dams and let the rivers run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DRIVING through uMasizakhe and Kroonvale on any given day of the week, one is struck by the number of children of school-going age pushing trolleys, makeshift carts and wheelbarrows full of bottles and buckets of water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":46997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"f89aa26b-cb51-4838-97a1-34dacdc149bb","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Elsab\u00e9 Pienaar","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-46995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nEducation takes back seat during water crisis | Komani Karoo Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Education takes back seat during water crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"DRIVING through uMasizakhe and Kroonvale on any given day of the week, one is struck by the number of children of school-going age pushing trolleys, makeshift carts and wheelbarrows full of bottles and buckets of water.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Komani Karoo Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KomaniKarooExpress\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"810\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elsab\u00e9 Pienaar\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Komani Karoo Express\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Komani Karoo Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9a777cf77130c8c2118be2011780fe5d\"},\"headline\":\"Education takes back seat during water crisis\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":692,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2020\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/\",\"name\":\"Education takes back seat during water crisis | Komani Karoo Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg\",\"width\":810,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Lingcom Primary School principal, Basil Jacobs stands next to a JoJo water tank which the children can access drinking water from. Photo: ELSAB\u00c9 PIENAAR\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Education takes back seat during water crisis\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/\",\"name\":\"Komani Karoo Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Komani Karoo Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/komani-karoo-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/komani-karoo-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Komani Karoo Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/KomaniKarooExpress\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/EP_Media24\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\\\/videos\"],\"description\":\"Komani-Karoo Express is an online\\\/social media news source that serves the communities of Komani (formerly Queenstown), Cradock, Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, Fort Beaufort, Somerset East, Hofmeyr, and surrounding areas. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region.\",\"email\":\"komanikarooexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"+27415036111\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9a777cf77130c8c2118be2011780fe5d\",\"name\":\"Komani Karoo Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Komani Karoo Express\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/komani-karoo\\\/author\\\/komanikaroo\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Education takes back seat during water crisis | Komani Karoo Express","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Education takes back seat during water crisis","og_description":"DRIVING through uMasizakhe and Kroonvale on any given day of the week, one is struck by the number of children of school-going age pushing trolleys, makeshift carts and wheelbarrows full of bottles and buckets of water.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/","og_site_name":"Komani Karoo Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KomaniKarooExpress\/","article_published_time":"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":810,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Elsab\u00e9 Pienaar","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@EP_Media24","twitter_site":"@EP_Media24","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Komani Karoo Express","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/"},"author":{"name":"Komani Karoo Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#\/schema\/person\/9a777cf77130c8c2118be2011780fe5d"},"headline":"Education takes back seat during water crisis","datePublished":"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/"},"wordCount":692,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2020","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/","name":"Education takes back seat during water crisis | Komani Karoo Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","datePublished":"2020-03-12T04:01:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-19T15:51:40+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","width":810,"height":1080,"caption":"Lingcom Primary School principal, Basil Jacobs stands next to a JoJo water tank which the children can access drinking water from. Photo: ELSAB\u00c9 PIENAAR"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/education-takes-back-seat-during-water-crisis-20200311\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Education takes back seat during water crisis"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/","name":"Komani Karoo Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#organization","name":"Komani Karoo Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/komani-karoo-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/komani-karoo-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Komani Karoo Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KomaniKarooExpress\/","https:\/\/x.com\/EP_Media24","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000\/videos"],"description":"Komani-Karoo Express is an online\/social media news source that serves the communities of Komani (formerly Queenstown), Cradock, Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, Fort Beaufort, Somerset East, Hofmeyr, and surrounding areas. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region.","email":"komanikarooexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"+27415036111","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/#\/schema\/person\/9a777cf77130c8c2118be2011780fe5d","name":"Komani Karoo Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8f1d67489b5f6a4102c9c510ca0c20a372dfaa6e3f4a7d08d684411cf5cf5a6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Komani Karoo Express"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/author\/komanikaroo\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17ee1674d6c249a883b98687466759cf.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47738,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/graaff-reinet-taps-run-dry-20191120\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":0},"title":"Graaff-Reinet taps run dry","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"21 November 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"TAPS are running dry in Graaff-Reinet, and residents are not impressed. This past weekend, hundreds of residents complained on Facebook about a lack of tap water, and expressed their anger at the Beyers Naud\u00e9 Local Municipality.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2c23e7cb1a9940be89cb3e503e0014ea.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2c23e7cb1a9940be89cb3e503e0014ea.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2c23e7cb1a9940be89cb3e503e0014ea.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2c23e7cb1a9940be89cb3e503e0014ea.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47574,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/lingcom-primary-sees-little-of-reconstruction-20191204\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":1},"title":"Lingcom Primary sees little of reconstruction","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"5 December 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"FOLLOWING numerous delays, teachers and learners are hopeful that construction on new buildings at Lingcom Primary School in Kroonvale, Graaff-Reinet, which started in March 2018, may finally be completed early next year.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/93dc763759aa4dcab1b5844c1857e446.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/93dc763759aa4dcab1b5844c1857e446.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/93dc763759aa4dcab1b5844c1857e446.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/93dc763759aa4dcab1b5844c1857e446.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47723,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/gotg-to-all-who-are-thirsty-20191120\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":2},"title":"GOTG: To all who are thirsty","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"21 November 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"WHILE the majority of Graaff-Reinet residents are battling municipal water shortages, Gift of the Givers (GOTG) has been able to provide some relief.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a613275f7bee47aa98fd61c485a0365b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a613275f7bee47aa98fd61c485a0365b.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a613275f7bee47aa98fd61c485a0365b.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a613275f7bee47aa98fd61c485a0365b.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48244,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/gift-of-the-givers-comes-to-aid-of-residents-and-livestock-20191003\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":3},"title":"Gift of the Givers comes to aid of residents and livestock","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"4 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"IMTIAZ Sooliman and the humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, have become real beacons of light for residents and farmers in the drought\u2013stricken Eastern Cape.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47057,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/mr-president-no-water-no-prosperity-20200226\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":4},"title":"Mr President . . . no water, no prosperity","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"27 February 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"WHILE the agricultural sector, the main income source of the Eastern Cape, is collapsing, provincial and national government seem oblivious to the thousands of job losses and the devastating effect on the economy.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48109,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/state-of-disaster-declared-20191016-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":46995,"position":5},"title":"State of disaster declared","author":"Komani Karoo Express","date":"17 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"THE drought-stricken Chris Hani District Municipality has declared a state of disaster in the district.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Komani Karoo Express","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46995\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46995"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=46995"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/komani-karoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=46995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}