#EndSchoolPitToilets: DBE promises intervention after DA oversight

25 July 2023

Yesterday, the DA continued with the #EndSchoolPitToilets oversight visits in the Free State.

DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, Baxolile Nodada, and DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Marina van Zyl, were accompanied by the DA's Spokesperson for Basic Education in the Free State, Mariette Pittaway.

The first oversight was at a farm school, Willows Primary School, that 115 learners attend from Gr R to Gr 7.

The school still has functional pit toilets for both staff and learners. In 2019 a learner fell in one of these pit toilets, but luckily the teachers were able to rescue them. These pit toilets are still in use despite a container with flush toilets being donated to the school. The Free State Department of Basic Education (DBE) has failed to connect these toilets although there is reliable water supply of a functioning borehole.

The Department has subsequently brought another container with toilets, but they have been locked since 2018 and not in use. Learners therefore relieve themselves outside or are forced to carry 20-liter bottles to collect water, despite their young age.

Despite the Department’s continued failures, the local farming community and local DA councillors’ "whole of society approach" have been actively involved in trying to keep this school going under difficult circumstances.

To date, the school’s electricity has been provided by a farmer, but unfortunately, this will no longer be the case. The Department has been made aware of it.

Although the pit toilets at Nteboheng Primary School are no longer in use, the learners and staff cannot use the 41 flushing toilets as they have been broken for the past 6 months with no Departmental intervention.

After being informed of our oversight, the Department phoned the school yesterday morning to indicate that the issue will be resolved. The Department must ensure that the toilets they install are in working order and maintained regularly.

It was comforting to note that the pit toilets at Nkgothatseng Intermediate School and Semajan Combined School have eradicated pit toilets.

The past few months, DA councillors have conducted oversights in Qwa Qwa and Thaba Nchu where the majority of the schools with pit toilets in the Free State still exist.

The Department must establish and budget a credible plan to eradicate these dangerous toilets, including schools that are not in the SAFE or ASIDI programmes.

Issued by Bax Nodada, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, 25 July 2023