Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

4-minute read
29 October 2024 | 13:13 CAT

Thousands of South African learners still rely on hazardous pit toilets—Amnesty International urges swift action to end this crisis by the March 2025 deadline.

Pit toilets, a relic of the past, continue to plague South African public schools, posing significant risks to learners’ health and safety. Despite decades of promises to eliminate them, over 1,770 schools still have pit latrines, with 287 of those relying solely on this hazardous infrastructure. Amnesty International South Africa has renewed its commitment to ensuring that pit toilets are eradicated by March 2025, aligning with the deadline set by Basic Education Minister Seviwe Gwarube.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Amnesty International’s Cassandra Dorosamy highlights that pit toilets are not only outdated but also dangerous, emphasizing that for as long as they remain, children are exposed to potential harm. “This issue should have been resolved long ago,” says Dorosamy. “We lost children and had severe injuries before the nation recognized the need to act.”

The failure to meet previous deadlines has eroded public trust. Although President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative in 2018 to replace unsafe infrastructure, progress has been slow. “Out of over 4,700 schools initially affected, only about 75% of the job is complete, leaving too many learners still at risk,” Dorosamy added.

Minister Gwarube recently pledged to hold contractors accountable and ensure that there will be no further delays. Amnesty International welcomes these commitments but remains cautious. “Our concern is that this cannot be another empty promise,” Dorosamy warns. “We will closely monitor government actions to ensure there is real progress by March 2025.”

Dorosamy also stressed that building new toilets is not enough, and pit latrines must be removed to prevent continued use. Amnesty International and other civil society organizations, such as Equal Education and Section 27, are pushing for the government to meet the legal obligation set out in the 2023 Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards, which bans school pit toilets.

While community involvement is encouraged, the ultimate responsibility lies with the government. “We support efforts where local businesses or private stakeholders collaborate with schools to address this issue,” Dorosamy said. “However, it is the government’s legal and moral duty to provide safe infrastructure for learners.”

With only months left before the March 2025 deadline, Amnesty International and other advocacy groups are holding the government accountable to ensure that South African children can finally learn in a safe environment.

Listen to the full interview won The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Cassandra Dorosamy here.