Durban — The Saphumula Senior Secondary school governing body (SGB) in the Umbumbulu area has applauded the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department’s effort in speeding up the process of rebuilding the toilets.
The school made headlines on Monday after the Daily News reported on sanitation issues faced by the teachers and pupils. It is alleged that in 2020, the department demolished the school’s flushable toilets to rebuild them.
Since then, about 400 pupils and teachers had to rely on four mobile toilets that were provided while the rebuilding process proceeded.
The mobile toilets were reportedly treated once a week. However, when the servicing initially stopped, they had to seek toilet usage from neighbouring households or relieve themselves in the bushes, behind the toilets and classrooms.
On Wednesday, eight mobile toilets were delivered to the school, four of them flushable.
SGB member Thobani Malishe said the arrival of mobile toilets and the material to complete the rebuilding of the toilets had given them hope of a school free of health hazards.
“We are grateful to see the department responding so quickly to our emergency. This progress has brought the teachers and pupils a sense of relief. The toilets problem had taken a toll on everyone for far too long,” he said.
“We have met the new contractor and the building material, including doors and toilets to complete the rebuilding of the toilets, were also delivered. Although we are not sure if the material brought is quality, since the school is only being attended to after a story broke," said Malishe.
He said although they were happy with the instant progress, the newly-built pit toilets remained their main concern.
“The toilet seats delivered show that they are building pit toilets. There are no pipes and taps that are usually used for plumbing when making flushable toilets. If that is the case, our school’s sanitation will continue to deteriorate. They demolished our toilets which were flushing, so it is not wrong of us to expect them to rebuild the same flushing ones again,” said Malishe.
He further stated that they wished the remaining two old mobile toilets, which were partially burnt by the pupils during the picket, could be collected.
On Tuesday, IFP KZN spokesperson on education Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa called on the MEC for Education, Mbali Frazer, to address the lack of proper toilets at the school as a matter of urgency.
Madlopha-Mthethwa said the KZN Legislature was horrified by the blatant disregard for human dignity taking place at the school.
“Why have teachers and pupils been subjected to this inhumane and degrading environment for almost three years? When will the toilets be built? We urge the MEC to intervene immediately, as these unhygienic conditions are responsible for water-borne diseases, which can cause large-scale diarrhoea and other illnesses among children,” said Madlopha-Mthethwa.
She said that during the 2022/23 financial year, the KZN Department of Education received a budget allocation of R57.5 billion.
“The question remains: Why have toilets not been built at Saphumula Secondary School, as there is clearly a budget available? It is disgusting and embarrassing that in a democratic country like ours, we still have teachers and learners who must relieve themselves in snake-infested bushes behind classrooms. This is yet another testament to the laissez-faire approach to leadership by the KZN Department of Education,” she said.
Madlopha-Mthethwa added that the IFP believed that school sanitation and a child’s education were inextricably linked.
“When children are denied access to safe and clean school toilets, their ability to learn and realise their full potential can be severely compromised. School toilets are a basic right, not a privilege, no matter a child’s circumstances or where they live. Further, lack of toilets severely impacts menstruating girls, who face extreme challenges without adequate sanitation facilities. This leads to them often choosing to stay at home during their period, missing valuable days in the classroom. Without working toilets, many young girls face the indignity of having to manage hygiene during menstruation in unacceptable conditions,” said Madlopha-Mthethwa.
The Department of Education issued a statement on Wednesday night stating that the project was at 95% completion, but that construction had been delayed because the contractor was off-site. The department said after intervention by the Infrastructure Section from the Head Office, the contractor had returned to the school.
“A meeting was held involving the circuit manager, the contractor and the principal of Saphumula Secondary School. At this meeting, the contractor pledged to complete all outstanding work by September 30, 2022. In the interim, Head Office Infrastructure has appointed a new service provider to provide chemical toilets until the permanent structures are complete,” said the department.
Daily News