GELVANDALE - PORT ELIZABETH MOTHER TAKES SCHOOL'S SMELLY TOILET ISSUE INTO HER OWN HANDS

Tired of hearing her daughter complain about stinky, dirty toilets at her school, a Port Elizabeth mother armed herself with strong detergent and set to work cleaning them herself.

Unemployed mother Emelda Cunningham, 42, who has two children at Gelvan Park Primary, said her daughter would often come home complaining about how the toilets were dirty and smelled of urine.

Cunningham, from Gelvandale, said: "My daughter would come home complaining about [how] the toilets were not clean. So, I decided that I would take time to clean the toilets and hopefully get other parents on board.

"Our children are important so we have to do it ourselves and not depend on the school.

"I believe it is time we take back our schools and take back our community," Cunningham said.

She posted on the school's Facebook page on Saturday about her intentions in order to get other parents involved.

"Some parents sent cleaning detergents, because they were not going to be able to take time off [work]."

Cunningham said the donations were very welcome. She got five other unemployed community members to help her clean the toilets.

Her actions was sparked by a parents meeting and a teacher's words which struck a chord.

"In the meeting she [the teacher] asked us what was the most important thing we can do for our children? I said to give them education and she said no. The best thing we can ever do for our children is to offer them our time. So, that's why I am here today."

Jordyn, 6, sang her praises for her mother: "I am very proud of her. I can't believe she was serious."

Thankful school principal Sinomie Lewis said the school had been without a caretaker for the past two years.

"Public Works gave us two cleaners this year but they have not been paid. It's a struggle to motivate them."

VIA - sowetanlive.co.za