Baby Soft tackles 'toilet loss' crisis in Gauteng schools this Mandela Day

New audit reveals 93.5% of school toilets in Gauteng fail to meet basic cleanliness and management standards

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A NEW audit of 300 Gauteng schools has revealed widespread “toilet loss” — a term used to describe bathrooms that are unsafe or unusable due to poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and the absence of essentials like soap and toilet paper.

The audit marks the launch of the “Unstoppable Together” campaign in Gauteng, an impactful public-private partnership between Baby Soft, Domestos and the Department of Basic Education.

“Our campaign extends beyond just providing cleaning supplies; it’s about helping schools take better care of their facilities through training and day-to-day systems that support hygiene and accountability,” said Siyolise Shinga, Baby Soft brand manager. “This Mandela Day, we're reaffirming our commitment to improving bathroom conditions for learners one province and school at a time.”

Gauteng’s sanitation wake-up call

Conducted in May 2025, the baseline audit assessed 1 717 toilet blocks and more than 4 000 cubicles across primary schools in Gauteng. The findings are stark: