SA schools pit toilets

Amnesty International South Africa says 2 983 South African schools still use pit toilets. Image: DA.

DA: Basic Education keeps shifting pit toilet eradication goal posts

The DA has accused the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of not doing enough to eradicate pit toilets and develop school infrastructure

SA schools pit toilets

Amnesty International South Africa says 2 983 South African schools still use pit toilets. Image: DA.

The DA says the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is not doing enough to eradicate pit toilets and develop school infrastructure.

DA LOOKING FOR ANSWERS OVER PIT TOILET CRISIS IN SCHOOLS

In an answer to a parliamentary question from the DA, Baxolile Ndoda MP – DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education says the Minister revealed that the Department is in the process “to determine revised timelines … to address pit toilets and dilapidated mud, asbestos and plank schools”.


With the exception of the Western Cape, Ndoda revealed that the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG) highlighted ineffective project implementation and management in all school infrastructure projects, including the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI), stating, “The departments are struggling to provide quality education facilities in a successful and timely manner.”

SHOCKING STATS OF SCHOOLS STILL IN INHUMANE CONDITIONS

In March this year, Amnesty International indicated 5 167 schools were still forced to use pit toilets.

“This while implementing agents that have built schools for 3 times the intended amount get away without any consequences. This takes away money that could be used to get rid of pit toilets, dilapidated asbestos and schools falling apart.”

Ndoda

Ndoda added that this is a grave failure by the Department given that all schools should have been provided with proper sanitation by November 2016, according to regulations relating to the Minimum Norms and Standards published in 2013, and all infrastructure should have been brought into compliance with the Norms and Standards by November 2020.

OVERSIGHT PAINTS A CHALLENGE IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

“With goal posts that keeps moving and the last assessment identifying pit toilets done in 2018, it seems the Department has lost its momentum in addressing these serious issues,” he reflected.

He further said oversights by the DA have revealed serious school infrastructure concerns in almost all provinces. “Unless the Minister exerts political will to ensure her Department implements necessary measures to meet their own objectives, the learners will continue to suffer in inadequate and dangerous schools,” Ndoda warned.