Municipal ablution facilities at the mosque parking lot, have allegedly been locked for the past two months.
Vusi Zwani, a car guard, voiced his disgust in seeing the toilets kept under lock and key.
“I have been working here for eight years and now I have to go to the toilet outside.”
One of Mr Zwane’s colleagues, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed he had heard the ablution facilities were locked to repair leaking pipes and toilets.
“But repairs for two months? The municipality is quick to take a person’s money, but their service is poor and we are forced to urinate on the side of the toilet’s building,” he said.
Gladys Ndlovu, a hawker in the area, found the closure of the toilets damaging to her business.
“When I need to go to the restroom, I have to walk all the way to Spar and pay R2. During the time I am away, I lose customers..”
Siya Zuma, chief of health service, explained the toilets were closed due to extensive damages caused by vandalism.
“Some of the parts required for repairs are not available locally. This has resulted in a delay regarding the procurement of the goods required for the repairs. The department is currently in the process of procuring the required parts. It should be noted that we have been experiencing an increase in vandalism of public toilets and the municipality is doing its utmost to fix damages speedily when they occur. Notices have been placed at the facility to inform the public to use other toilet facilities around town,” Mr Zuma said.
Mr Zuma said the area would be sanitised to combat insalubrious conditions.
“We are expecting to have the facility open for use by the community before October 23. The community is encouraged to refrain from urinating around the facility and use the other nine facilities that are available around town. The municipality is further making a plea to the community to assist the municipality with the identification and reporting of the elements that are responsible for the vandalism of the facilities.”
