Residents from Joe Slovo informal settlement are breathing a sigh of relief as their mobile chemical toilets are now being cleaned and drained twice a week.
This comes after their chemical toilets where drained once a week before the lockdown was instituted on March 27.
Keneuoe Thejane, who is part of the ward committee, said the three contractors that have been hired by the metro to carry out the services in the area have started draining toilets twice a week since the lockdown began.
“We are happy because we weren’t really satisfied that our toilets were cleaned once a week because some of these toilets are used by five families. They need to be serviced therefore more frequently. We are not sure if this is part of government’s preventative measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19,” Thejane said.
Another ward committee member, Peter Pamela, said they hope that even after the lockdown they’ll maintain this routine.
Community member Sonwabile Cilwana said his toilet used to smell, which posed health risks, but since the contractors started draining these chemical toilets twice it doesn’t smell anymore.
Chemical toilets in Ramaphosa and Freedom Park informal settlements are also now being drained twice a week.
In August last year, the City of Ekurhuleni appointed new service providers for the supply of mobile toilets in informal settlements across the City, in line with the mission to reinstate the dignity of the people.
The new service providers will render the service between July 1 and June 20, 2022.
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