Hannah Omarjee | homarjee@rdioislam.co.za
22 March 2023 | 15:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: SECTION27

The eradication of pit latrines in schools nationwide was one of the primary calls from civil society and political parties. They celebrated Human Rights Day on Tuesday, the 21st of March 2023, following the death of a four-year-old child in a school pit latrine earlier this month. The DA says they intend to take the matter to court, while civil society organisation Section27, in partnership with the Centre for Child Law, plans to launch an online tool on Friday.

Section27s’ Pearl Nicodemus says it’s a shocking indictment that pit latrines are still being spoken of in 2023, especially since children are dying from something that can be easily avoided.

The organisation has developed a tool they plan to launch at Constitution Hill on the 24th of March during the Human Rights Festival. Nicodemus says the tool will disclose the progress the Limpopo Department has made in eradicating pit latrines in the province, allowing the public to hold the department accountable.

Nicodemus says, “According to their (the Departments’) own deadline, on the 31st of March, they would have, or should have eradicated what they call ‘Priority One’ schools. That is schools that exclusively rely on pit latrines and are in the most dire state.”

Section 27 is currently only operating in Limpopo; however, they are keen to see pit latrines eradicated across the nation.

Nicodemus says,” We will do absolutely everything that we can, within our power, means and resources, to win this fight against the latrines.”

Listen to the full interview here.