10 000 schools without flushing toilets: BOSA calls on minister to urgently address school sanitation crisis

6 November 2024

Build One South Africa (BOSA) remains concerned at the stark disparities in school infrastructure across the country, which Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has recently confirmed in response to a written parliamentary question (Attached here).

The data reveals that 10,938 schools do not have a single flushing toilet, and 383 schools do not have any running water. This shocking reality is a fundamental violation of the dignity of learners and stands as an undeniable indicator of South Africa’s grossly unequal education system.

While some schools boast AstroTurf sports fields and state-of-the-art science labs, hundreds of thousands of learners are subjected daily to appalling conditions in schools without the most basic facilities. This division is a direct result of ongoing government neglect and perpetuates cycles of inequality, robbing students in under-resourced communities of their right to a safe and conducive learning environment.

Minister Gwarube is holding a press briefing today to address matters within the education sector, and BOSA calls on her to prioritize and present a clear, actionable plan to address these unacceptable disparities. It is crucial for her to explain how the Department of Basic Education will ensure every learner has access to dignified sanitation and a safe environment at school.

We demand a timeline for eradicating these disparities in school infrastructure and an immediate allocation of resources to eliminate this crisis. The dignity, health, and future prospects of South Africa's youth cannot remain an afterthought.

Issued by Roger Solomons, BOSA Acting Spokesperson, 6 November 2024