About 1,000 pupils at Lilanga High School in Diepdale village near Mayflower are reportedly using two overflowing pit toilets , while 29 teachers are using two waterless toilets and must carry buckets of water when they want to use the facility.
Education Experts React
Education specialist Hendrick Makaneta said what was happening at the school was a violation of pupils’ right to basic education.
“Forcing about 1,000 pupils to rely on two overflowing pit toilets is a health hazard. It exposes them to disease.”
“Despite many years of commitments made by the department of basic education, the persistence of such conditions shows that something has gone wrong.”
Prof Kathija Yassim , head of the department of education leadership and management at the University of Johannesburg, said pit latrines remain in some schools primarily due to historical underfunding and slow infrastructure upgrades, especially in rural areas.
“To address this problem, the government needs to accelerate the construction of flush toilets or safe eco-sanitation alternatives, with priority given to schools with the youngest pupils who are most at risk.”
The Reality
Some pupils allegedly ask neighbours to use their toilets, while others go into the nearby bush.
The DA’s Response
Annerie Weber , DA member in the Mpumalanga legislature, said this has been happening since 2007.
“The DA has seen documents proving that the school has written countless letters to the Mpumalanga departments of education, public works, circuit managers and local councillors since 2015, asking for help, but they are still ignored.”
“In 2020, the Mpumalanga government appointed its public works department – with a R1.6 million budget from provincial human settlements – to renovate and upgrade the Lilanga High School, but nothing was done.”
Weber said the party would write a letter requesting the SA Human Rights Commission to intervene.
The Department’s Response
Mpumalanga department of education spokesperson Gerald Sambo said the school was in an area experiencing persistent water scarcity.
The school has six 15,000-litre water tanks, with an additional tank recently donated by the local municipality.
“A borehole was installed but is not viable due to low water levels. We constructed waterborne ablution facilities in 2018, but these were vandalised, necessitating the use of pit latrines, comprising five for girls, three for boys, and one each for male and female staff.”
“Interventions are underway to restore and improve these facilities.”
The Recent Incident
A Grade 1 pupil fell into a pit toilet at Mogogelo Primary School in the North West province recently and was rescued by fellow pupils.
The Bottom Line
One thousand pupils. Two overflowing pit toilets. Twenty-nine teachers carrying buckets of water.
The department says water scarcity and vandalism are to blame. Experts say it’s a violation of dignity.
The DA wants the Human Rights Commission to step in. And the pupils keep going to the bush.
