‘Pit latrines at schools to be eradicated by 2022’

Close to 4 000 public schools still use pit latrines and, so far, a government infrastructure programme has provided “sanitation solutions” at 68 of these schools.

Sanitation issues at close to 1 000 schools have also been addressed by provincial education departments and through other partnerships.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revealed this in response to a written parliamentary question from EFF MP Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela, who wanted details pertaining to school infrastructure and personal protective equipment (PPEs).

He also wanted to know by what date the department would ensure that not a single school was without basic necessities.

Motshekga said the department planned to eradicate pit latrines by 2022.

“It is also correct that the provincial departments of education identified more than 3 800 schools that rely on basic pit toilets.

“Again, the department is working with the various provincial departments of education to address such challenges. Sanitation

solutions have been implemented at 68 of these schools under the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (Asidi) programme,” she said.

The programme aims to eradicate the backlog in schools without water, sanitation and electricity. It also aims to replace schools constructed from inappropriate material like mud and asbestos.

“The provincial departments have addressed the needs at a further 834 schools.

“Several partnerships contributed to solve the challenge at another 103 schools,” she said.

“The department appointed four different implementing agents to address a further 1 121 schools. These agents are in varying stages of completion of the sanitation solutions,” she said.

In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (Safe) initiative in a bid to rid schools of pit latrines. Last year, Motshekga said Treasury allocated a total of R3.4 billion to the Safe initiative over the 2019 medium-term expenditure framework.

The private sector has pledged R256 milion. – News24 Wire