Call to fix pit latrines

CIVIL SOCIETY: PLEA FOR UPDATED AUDIT TO IDENTIFY SCHOOLS LEFT OUT

- Thando Nondywana

Section27, and various civil society organisations say South Africa needs an updated national audit to identify schools left out of the education minister's pit latrine plan. Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube had pledged to eliminate pit toilets nationwide, but the deadline has passed with many schools still without adequate sanitation facilities.

Demichelle Petherbridge, education attorney at Section27, highlighted ongoing challenges.

"While there has been progress, it is concerning that some schools still lack proper sanitation. Reports indicate that some schools have new facilities, others have construction projects that remain unfinished.

"In some cases, construction has not even started, and mobile toilets were provided as an interim measure. However, these mobile toilets have proved inadequate," she said.

The Limpopo department of education had set its own 31 March deadline to upgrade all schools that still relied on pit toilets, designated as "priority one schools". However, delays have now pushed the expected completion date to next month.