Government is trampling on my rights’
A CORRUGATED iron sheet is the “door ” that keeps Anna Matlotlo from being seen by pupils of the nearby Renyakalletse Primary School when she uses the toilet.
Matlotlo lives in Rammulotsi township near Viljoenskroon in Free State. Rammulotsi has become the face of sanitation problems in the country following widespread reports about the open toilets there.
“We have never had a proper and dignified toilet ever since we moved here when I was very young. When it rains we don ’ t even bother to use the toilet because it has no roof,” says Matlotlo.
Despite Moqhaka municipality ’ s claim that all but two toilets in the area had been enclosed, Sowetan saw many houses with open and incomplete toilets on a visit to the area last week. Some residents have covered their open toilets with corrugated iron sheets.
Paulinah Tonyane, Mariah Malebatso and Alina Koali are among many who are forced to use pit toilets, despite having new toilets in their yards. They cannot use the toilets, built in 2011, because they are not connected to the sewerage system.
“My rights are being trampled upon by government. They just put up this structure in my yard and left. I have nowhere to go and complain,” says Tonyane.
“I have no option but to use this pit toilet and it is getting full,” says Malebatso.
Nicodemus Mokoatsi says he has lost count of the number of complaints he has lodged with his ward councillor, Simon Mokoena, who is also his brother-in-law.
“Why should we continue voting for such a person? He is aware that my toilet has not been covered for many years but he has failed to assist us. I used bricks and other materials to cover it,” says Mokoatsi.
Selina Letsoara and her neighbour Thuli Tjeko say they have lost hope that their toilets would be properly covered like others in the township.
“I have lost count of my complaints to the municipality. They don ’ t care and have been lying to us. Weeks, months and years have passed and we are still waiting,” Letsoara says.
Sowetan saw more open toilets in Kroonstad, 51km away from Ram- mulotsi, also municipality.
When you enter Marabastad from Kroonstad, there are more than 150 neat brick toilets but most are unused. According to residents, the toilets were built in 2010. Some of the toilets stand among tall grass and some have been vandalised. ntwa-
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