Submitted by Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality
Public restrooms are often taken for granted, overlooked and regarded as mundane. However, for some, access to these critical spaces is a crucial issue on a daily basis. Public restrooms should be about the provision of a safe and convenient public amenity. Free provision of public toilets in spaces like the central business district (CBD), stations, parks, sports fields and ranks should be a basic necessity for a socially-inclusive society.
It is in line with this that Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality Mayor Jabulile Mbele was at the Wembezi Taxi Rank behind the HyperZone loading area on August 28.
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The purpose was to officially open the public toilets for community use. These public toilets will be open from Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm, and on Saturdays and public holidays from 8am to 2pm. Amid the mayor’s entourage were Community Services Portfolio chairperson Cllr B Mlotshwa, Inkosi Langalibalele women’s caucus chairperson Cllr NM Hlongwane and Department of Community Services director Mrs ZM Ndlela.
In his welcoming address, Cllr B Mlotshwa highlighted that since 2016, upon being sworn in as councillors, there has been a huge cry for decent toilets from both the taxi association and the general public. He said this day marks the answering of many people’s prayers and he further urged members of the community to keep the toilets in a good state, as they will be using these facilities free of charge.
The mayor was jovial as she cut the ribbon to officially mark the handing over of these public toilets to the community and stakeholders.
The public toilets have three female restrooms and two for males. Public toilets are known as transmitters of disease, but are also vital components in creating sustainable hygiene in town. The municipality will provide toilet paper and cleaning material.
Noluthando Miladzi (youth environmental co-ordinator from the Community Services Department in the municipality) stressed that public toilets often carry infections if not properly cared for, because they are used by a large number of people. She urged people to avoid going in and out of the toilets without washing their hands, especially now that Covid-19 has engulfed the country and is transmittable in public spaces.
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