ActionSA in Mpumalanga is concerned about overflowing pit toilets in Charles Cilliers, Govan Mbeki Municipality.
The party said the residents are still subjected to a hazardous communal pit toilets system and the communities claim the municipality promised to convert their pit toilets to waterborne toilets 14 years ago, but it never happened.
“ActionSA has observed a concerted effort to jeopardize the waste collection by those responsible for this task and the last time they drained these toilets was two years ago,” said the party provincial chairperson, Thoko Mashiane.
“The communities are living in an unhealthy environment as they share those overflowing communal toilets. They cannot eat because of the flies and stench in their houses.
“We strongly believe the municipality can address this matter, yet there is a lack of political will. It is evident that corruption and greed have overpowered good governance,” said Mashiane.
Mashiane said according to Section 27 of the Constitution (1) Everyone has the right to have access to (a) health care services, including reproductive health care; (b) sufficient food and water; and (c) social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance. However, this basic human right is being trampled upon by the municipality.
She said contrary to this, 10 farming communities from Syferfontein Farm, Genadirsfontein Farm, Irenedale Farm, Knopiesfontein and other farms are complaining the municipality is failing to empty their toilets which are already full and overflowing. They allege the municipality has blatantly ignored their complaints.
The municipal spokesperson, Lucky Mhlongo said the municipality deploys trucks to suck clean pit toilets on farms across the municipality, but sometimes the residents are not at home.
Mhlongo said the municipality informs ward committees a day before the arrival of the sucking truck.
Mhlongo appealed to those farm communities to report their toilet challenges to their ward committees for the issue to receive urgent attention.
They also appealed to those farm communities to put water in their pit toilets before the municipality can come to suck the waste inside them.
