In rural northern South Africa, a high school with over 300 students and teachers is grappling with a dire situation – only three pit latrine toilets are shared among them. This woefully inadequate figure sheds light on the country’s deep-rooted problems of poverty and inequality. Human rights groups are now urging the South African government to address the issue of sub-standard facilities in schools and provide safe and dignified sanitation for all.
The pit toilets at Seipone Secondary School in Ga-Mashashane village, although equipped with white toilet seats and enclosed by brick structures, are unhygienic and pose direct dangers. Tragically, incidents of children drowning in these pit latrines have occurred, emphasizing the urgent need for change. One such heart-wrenching case involved James Komape’s five-year-old son, Michael, who lost his life after falling into a pit latrine in 2014. Despite subsequent court orders and public outcry, similar accidents continue to happen, with no reliable data on the number of lives lost in pit toilets. The South African government promised to replace all pit toilets in schools by March 2023, but this deadline has been shifted to 2025. Currently, there are still 3,398 schools using pit latrines. The government’s failure to fulfill its commitment has sparked frustration and anger among human rights groups and communities.
Equal Education, a prominent human rights group, has been inspecting pit toilets across the country. They argue that the government’s negligence towards the safety of students reflects a lack of dignity and respect for those in rural areas. Another organization, Section27, has been actively supporting affected families and holding the government accountable through its Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor. While some progress has been made in reducing the number of schools using pit toilets, many children remain at risk. The Seipone Secondary School students, joining the chorus of dissatisfaction, demand safer and more hygienic sanitation facilities. The plight of South Africa’s pit toilets in schools underscores the urgent need for immediate action, emphasizing that every child deserves safe and dignified access to basic sanitation.