New toilets unveiled by Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. Photo by Masixole Feni.
25 May 2015
Minister of Water Affairs and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane announced in Khayelitsha on Friday the launch of pilot projects of new mobile toilets. But residents’ reactions were somewhat sceptical.
Sisa Mahobe, who lives in Taiwan section, Khayelitsha, said, “The problem is we have flush toilets, but they have not been serviced. Some of these toilets are blocked. Now they building us new ones and we do not know how they going to maintain them. And we were not even informed about the installation of [these] new toilets. We still need someone to tell us more about [them]. How many people are going to use them? When are they going to be cleaned and on which days?”
The two project sites are BM Section informal settlement in Site B and BT informal settlement in Site C. Each site has received ten toilets, five for men and five for women. The sites have two security guards deployed in each facility all day, and residents have access 24 hours a day. Although sanitation is a local government responsibility, the City of Cape Town and national government are co-operating in the implementation of these pilot projects.
Mahobe said that in Taiwan section residents refused to use the toilets, because the person who was installing a sample refused to tell residents how the toilets will be cleaned. “I think it is time our government involved us when taking decisions. These toilets are going to be given to us but no one is telling us how they are going to work,” he added.
Sibusiso Zonke from BM informal settlement agreed with Mahobe saying more explanation is needed. “These toilets will be flushed but the sewerage will be stored in a tank at the back of the toilet. But till when? That’s the question. And we need explanations,” he said.
Zonke was among a group of informal settlement residents who fought against portable toilets in 2013. He said as much as they fought for better toilets, he does not think the new mobile toilets are a better solution. “The only thing that will make people happy is to see that these toilets will have someone maintaining them. [You can’t] just give people toilets, then leave. We demand everything to be clear from the start, residents must be involved,” he said.
BM Community leader said that five families will share one toilet, because demand for toilets is very high in BM section.
Axolile Notywala from Social Justice Coalition, said they haven’t seen how some of these toilets work. He said, “If this part of a broader plan, things will get better. However if it is delivered the same way as the portable toilets, people are going to complain,” he said. “People must be told the proper plan and [how the toilets will be serviced]. Residents must be consulted,” said Notywala.