Pit toilets replaced by substandard ‘improved’ pit toilets in EC schools

Despite the efforts by the provincial basic education department to replace traditional pit toilets at Eastern Cape schools with ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs), the latter bring their own set of challenges and are frequently non-compliant with critical design and safety standards outlined in the 2016 Water Research Commission (WRC) guidelines.

These alarming findings were revealed in a report by the South African Human Rights Commission tabled during a press briefing convened at Garden Court in East London on Monday. The report focuses on the condition of sanitation facilities in foundation phase schools in the Eastern Cape. There have been numerous incidents and media reports about the deaths of learners who have drowned in pit latrines.

In January, at a media briefing, the newly appointed Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube and MEC Fundile Gade revealed that out of the 427 reported pit latrines in early 2024, the province has more than “100 or so” pit latrine toilets to eradicate before the 31 March 2025 deadline.

However, he Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) acting chief director for infrastructure, Tsepo Pefole said the department is out of funds to meet the deadline. “We are trying as much as possible to eradicate the pit-latrine toilets by March and we are committed to what the minister has issued as an instruction, however it is difficult to say by March everything will be done as the budget is almost depleted. Currently we are dealing with invoices for services already provided.”

But even the completed projects are a cause for concern according to the human rights commission. In its effort to eradicate these ‘traditional’ pit latrines, the Eastern Cape Department of Education was found to have chosen quantity over quality. Despite the recommendation by the 2016 WRC guidelines, the department failed to design the VIPs to be fit for use by young children aged 3-7 years. Because children are vulnerable, the Water Research Commission stipulated features that are essential to toilets intended for their use:

Smaller pedestals tailored to the physical dimensions of young children to prevent falls;

Offset pits to reduce direct exposure to hazardous openings and reinforced structural elements to prevent collapse or instability;

Protective handles to aid balance;

Privacy features;

Proper ventilation.

With 1,373 of 1,451 VIP installation projects completed by the end of the 2024/25 financial year, at a cost of over R1.82-billion, the commission in its findings declared this “a potentially flawed solution”. “For example, at Lindokuhle Primary School in Bizana, newly constructed VIPs were found to lack age-appropriate features such as smaller seats or protective barriers, rendering them unsafe for younger learners. Similarly, at Khiba Junior Secondary School in Herschel, VIPs built more than a decade ago had large, adult-sized seats that posed significant hazards for children in the Foundation Phase,” states the report.

The DBE’s infrastructure chief admitted that there may be irregularities in the construction of VIP toilets but the department would ensure accountability of their builders. “The VIP toilets are built in line with the regulations which are national building and municipal bylaws. We seek to ensure that we abide by that. We employ built environment practitioners for each project, and registered architects and engineers to ensure that all structures conform with all relevant regulations. It does happen sometimes that there are lapses and poor leadership but we are able to have a recourse to ensure that they account,” Pefole said.

Ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets that offer no privacy. Photo supplied

The commission found that by overlooking the WRC’s guidelines, the department has breached its constitutional obligation as stipulated in section 29 of the constitution and the minimum uniform norms and standards for school Infrastructure, which emphasise the requirement for safe, secure, and age-appropriate facilities.

The SAHRC has recommended that the DBE take urgent steps to eradicate all remaining traditional pit latrines, and ensure that all newly constructed facilities meet safety, hygiene, and accessibility requirements by adopting and implement the WRC guidelines.

He said the department was also monitoring their projects through the Education Facility Management System. “We have a system called EFMAS which we monitor projects as they move and it tells us whether a project is moving or not and we are able to send inspectors for a fact finding mission so that we are able to communicate with the beneficiaries and find resolutions,” he said.