Calls for abolition of pit toilets in Durban

The DA says communities in eThekwini deserve to live in safe and clean communities without pit toilets.

This after the blue party conducted an oversight visit in KwaMashu, Durban, where residents are still subjected to having to use pit latrines.

The oversight was led by DA KZN leader Francois Rodgers, DA KZN spokesperson on human settlements Marlaine Nair, DA Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) chairperson councillor Hlengiwe Shozi and DA eThekwini spokesperson on human settlements Zamani Khuzwayo.

The DA said the pit toilets were built by the eThekwini Municipality between 1996 and 1997 and have not been cleaned for more than five years.

“It is disappointing that almost 30 years into democracy under the ANC government, communities and schools are still subjected to using pit toilets. Across the country, we have had reports of deaths of the most vulnerable at these toilets yet the ANC has done little to nothing to eradicate these toilets. Our communities deserve to live in safe and clean communities, this is why the DA has launched a court challenge to end pit toilets in schools.”

Rodgers said some of the pit toilets were so full that the community couldn’t use them so they use buckets at night and dispose of the effluent the next day.

Responding to this sanitation disaster, eThekwini said the lack of bulk sewer infrastructure and funding constraints have led to a significant backlog in the provision of acceptable sanitation in some areas of the city.

Municipality responds

Municipal head of communications Lindiwe Khuzwayo said as a result of the backlog, the municipality proposed a new plan to install on-site sanitation technology, including urine diversion toilets, to replace pit latrines.

“This was given the go-ahead at a recent full council meeting.

“The installation of alternative on-site sanitation technology is an effort towards addressing the sanitation backlog in marginalised communities. This approach will positively impact the health and safety of residents and improve the standard of living in these areas.”

Khuzwayo said many rural areas are currently served with informal structures not built in accordance with municipal standards. These have deteriorated due to heavy rainfall and subsequent flood disasters.

“This has resulted in open defecation and negatively impacted the health and safety of affected communities. The municipality currently has several categories of sanitation levels of service, including those with no access to any form of sanitation facility, access to traditional pit latrines, and those with non-functional sanitation systems.”

She said it was estimated that more than 50 000 households throughout the municipality require on-site sanitation, with the number increasing due to rapid urbanisation.

To address this issue, Khuzwayo said the municipality had granted additional authority for R100m, with some being funded from savings from other projects and the balance sourced from further savings in the 2022/2023 financial year.

“This investment is a significant milestone achievement and a step towards breaking barriers and ensuring a better life for marginalised communities.”