Democratic Alliance press statement by Leon Basson MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Self-dug pit toilets a scandal – SAHRC must investigate 02 September 2014 Release: Immediate The DA will submit a complaint with South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the existence of self-dug pit toilets across the country in addition to the rapid increase in the use of the bucket toilet system, following a reply to a DA parliamentary question by Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane. It was revealed that in Mangaung’s informal settlements, a scandalous amount of 24 715 self-dug un-ventilated pit toilets exist. 20 900 bucket toilets are used in Nelson Mandela Bay. In the City of Tshwane the urine diversion toilet system, which consists of 170 269 toilets, are provided for in informal settlements but are not being serviced at all by the Municipality or contractors. It is shocking that these problems persist on such a large scale in ANC-run metros. According to StatsSA Census 2011, the average household consists of 3.4 persons. In the City of Johannesburg the ratio is one toilet for every 13 households (1:13) in informal settlements. If you live in a Johannesburg informal settlement, you are therefore likely to share a toilet with 44 other persons. In addition, 49 368 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilets exist in the City of Johannesburg – a VIP is little more than a hole in the ground, with some basic form of ventilation. In Buffalo City, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and eThekwini informal settlements one toilet is shared by 34 others on average. In contrast to this, the City of Cape Town has voluntarily set itself a ratio of one public toilet for every five families throughout the City’s informal settlements and has successfully managed to reach this target. That means the DA-run City has managed to cut the number of individuals per toilet down to 15. The use of a variety of sanitation facilities which are serviced free-of-charge by the city three times per week ensures that each household is able to make use of a sanitary and dignified toilet. No other municipality, but the City of Cape Town, listed whether they have full flush toilets. This reply confirms that Cape Town has the best sanitation provision in the country. The ANC desperately needs to get its own house in order before criticising the DA-run City of Cape Town. This success is a clear result of the DA’s clean governance and focus on uplifting poor communities. The DA will continue striving to deliver the best possible services for all the people in the places where we govern. We will also assist the SAHRC to determine why and where these horrific toilet systems exist and how to get rid of them. Media enquiries: Leon Basson MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation 082 446 6126 Yaseen Carelse Research and Communications Officer 076 818 2820 This email was sent by DA Target Media from DA using Target Media, unsubscribe This email uses HTML and may not display correctly in a non-HTML viewer.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:21:41 +0000
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