Photo: Kenneth Kapitako Napenda and members from Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari with Anna Maldrid Josti the Principal of JP Brand Primary School, situated in Utuseb
JP Brand Primary School, a rural government-run boarding school situated in Utuseb in the Namib Desert, approximately 50 kilometres east of Walvis Bay, is battling a serious water crisis that continues to threaten the wellbeing of its 267 hostel learners.
The Principal of JP Brand Primary School, Anna Maldrid Josti said the situation has become increasingly difficult due to the extreme desert climate and frequent power outages in the area. “One of the main concerns is obviously water. Living in the desert, we know how hot it can become. Having over 200 learners here with water issues really touched us,” Josti said.
The school’s main water storage tank is old, damaged and no longer functional. As a result, the institution depends entirely on a direct supply line from NamWater. However, because the system relies on electricity, any power interruption leaves the school without running water. “For schools in town, it’s easy to send learners home if there’s no water for the day. But for us, being 50 kilometres outside town and operating as a boarding school, we can sit for days without any water supply,” she explained.
Although NamWater occasionally provides emergency relief through water tankers, the school lacks proper storage infrastructure to secure a consistent backup supply. The existing structure, designed to hold two 10 000-litre tanks, requires urgent repairs as well as the old tank that is leaking for years. “It’s very sad to see the children running around looking for water. Sometimes staff members share what little water they have at home with the learners. We cannot send them home – all 267 learners stay in the hostel,” Josti added.
Amid the ongoing challenges, relief has come in the form of a N$20 000 sponsorship raised through a recent marathon event. Kenneth Kapitako Napenda, owner of Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari, together with MDS, handed over the donation to assist the school in addressing its water crisis. “One of the main concerns is obviously water to the school. Water is essential to humans and living in the desert we know how hot it can become. Having over 200 learners here with water issues really touched us,” Kapitako said during a consultation meeting at the school. While welcoming the donation as a positive step, Josti emphasised that further support will be needed to fully restore the damaged water storage system and ensure reliable access to water for the learners.
By Rudi Bowe
