Pupils at Lekgwareng Primary School in Limpopo, one of 1 250 which still use pit latrines, will have to wait for almost another year to have proper sanitation.
This was revealed by the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga in her response to a written parliamentary question on Monday.
She was responding to the IFP’s Siphosethu Ngcobo and member of the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on basic education, who asked for an updated plan to ensure the department delivers on its promise of schools without pit latrines.
The department missed its deadline of eradicating all pit latrines in all South African schools by the end of March 2023.
Lekgwareng is situated in Ga-Kgapane in the Greater Giyani local municipality and falls under the Mopani East education district.
It has 380 pupils and only four appropriate toilets and 10 basic pit toilets.
In her response, Motshekga said the construction of the toilets will start in January 2024.
“In order to conform to the minimum uniform norms and standards for school infrastructure, the school requires 24 appropriate toilets,” said Motshekga.
“Limpopo department of education reported that the sanitation project for additional toilets at this school is scheduled for tender in August 2023, with construction due in January.”
Limpopo had 3 589 schools with inappropriate sanitation before the March 31 deadline.
Motshekga revealed that 2 339 schools have already been provided with appropriate sanitation, in line with the minimum uniform norms and standards for school infrastructure.
“Leaving a remainder of 1 250 schools, which will be addressed during the 2023/24 financial year,” said Motshekga in her written reply.
Education rights group Section 27 launched the Moses Kopane sanitation progress monitor in 2023 to track the progress of the eradication of pit latrines in Limpopo.
In September 2021, the high court in the province ordered the national Department of Education and the Limpopo department of education to develop a comprehensive plan to eradicate pit latrines and provide safe and dignified sanitation services.
Kopane, a five-year-old pupil at Mahlodumela Primary School in the Capricorn South district fell and drowned in a pit latrine in 2014.
His family, represented by Section 27, took the education department to court over its failure to provide safe sanitation for pupils in the province.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
