The stench from the septic tank toilet system which residents of Zonkizizwe had to endure, especially during summer season, is now a thing of the past.
This follows an injection of more than R17-million for the construction of 912 brick and mortar toilet structures.
Ekurhuleni executive mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele celebrated with the residents, last Monday, when he officially launched the waterborne toilet structure in the area.
This toilet system brings to an end a number of challenges, including the fact that some septic tank toilets did not have washbasins, thereby compromising the health of the community members.
It must be noted that the water and sewer services were installed in Zonkizizwe a long time ago by the then Transvaal Provincial Government, but excluded the provision of waterborne toilets.
As a result, corrugated toilets with septic tanks were erected.
On some stands no toilets were provided at all, and owners constructed pit latrines.
The launch of this project means that the metro is responding to the national and international sanitation drive informed by the United Nations General Assembly, in a resolution adopted last year, in December.
The resolution called on member states to redouble the efforts to close the sanitation gap.
It is further an important stride towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals on sanitation.
