Bucket toilets fill up

STINK: UNDRAINED SINCE APRIL DUE TO SERVICE PROVIDERS' GO-SLOW

- Masoka Dube

STINK: UNDRAINED SINCE APRIL DUE TO SERVICE PROVIDERS' GO-SLOW

Residents of several informal settlements in the City of Ekurhuleni will spend Christmas without toilets if the government continues not to pay service providers.

Sources within the municipality confirmed that the bucket system toilets had not been drained since April, while in some areas the service halted in October due to non-payment of service providers.

The affected areas include Thokoza, Daveyton, Tembisa, Germiston and Boksburg.

Sibongile Phama from Vusimuzi informal settlement in Tembisa said the service providers had been on a go-slow since April.

In October, they stopped working, forcing community members to dump waste in their yards, Phama said.

"The situation is horrible because we are now forced to dig holes in our yards and put the dirt and cover with soil. When we inquire, we are told that the government did not pay those responsible to drain the toilets. How are we going to enjoy Christmas without toilets?" asked Phama.