Toilet troubles in Joe Slovo
Not been emptied since December
SHACK dwellers from Joe Slovo informal settlement have to relieve themselves in open fields after two of the only available pit toilets have not been emptied since December.
When The Rep visited the area earlier this week, people were seen defecating in the open. There was an overwhelming odour of human waste.
Notshuku Mafojela who has lived in the troubled informal settlement for 20 years said their excitement on receiving the two structures was short-lived as problems arose immediately.
“We considered ourselves fortunate when the municipality built us these toilets in 2012 . Now they are in a bad state and some people have to relieve themselves at the graveyard. ”
She said children used a nearby trench behind the shacks for safety reasons.
“The children go behind the shacks, it would be dangerous for them to go to the veld. I use the overflowing toilets regardless, I just block my nose and go in. Sometimes this makes me very sick, but I have no option.”
A former committee member who did not want to be named said having no access to acceptable toilets was stripping them of their dignity.
The woman, a resident for 24 years, said she had to pay a monthly rental at a house in the neighbouring Unifound community to get access to basic sanitation. Prices range from R20 to R50.
“Going to another house to use their toilet is not comfortable. Sometimes I just go to the field and my husband has to accompany me. This is risky because there are young criminals who roam around, day and night.”
As her shack is just a few metres away from the toilets, she said the smell on hot summer days was unbearable. “There are flies everywhere. We asked Lukhanji to add just four more toilets, but we have not heard anything from them.”
The woman said her nephews and children aged six, seven and eight were all suf- fering from a bad skin problem.
“My sister’s children came here on December 15, and within a month they had diarrhoea, as did my child. We live in a stinking environment,” she said.
The general feeling among residents was that the municipality could do a better job. One resident, Noxolo Mphuthumi, said the situation had left many people without privacy.
“I do not use those toilets. I pay R30 a month at a house in Unifound to use their toilet.”
Ward 21 councillor Nomathamsanqa Totseti said she was aware of the problem and had reported the matter to the municipality.
Lukhanji municipal spokesman Fundile Feketshane said queries should be sent to Chris Hani District Municipality.
“The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa confers powers and functions on municipalities and water and sanitation is a function of Chris Hani District Municipality. It is our wish to see that this service is provided in a suitable manner that retains the dignity of people as enunciated in the constitution.”
He said informal settlements were a temporary arrangement and at no stage could a municipality allocate a toilet to each house. “Those people shall be moved at some point and there are financial implications.”
These questions were sent to Chris Hani District Municipality, but no reply had been received at the time of going to press.