South Africa's pit latrine deaths are a grim reminder of the lack of access to basic sanitation, particularly in rural areas. The government must prioritise addressing this issue to prevent further tragic incidents and ensure safety and dignity for all.
According to the Department of Basic Education’s audit, about 3 898 schools across the country were reported to have inappropriate sanitation. SAFE is a public-private initiative that targets schools where sanitation is inadequate or unsafe for use. , about 3 898 schools across the country were reported to have inappropriate sanitation.
Komape’s death was followed by the death of seven-year-old Lister Magongwa, whose body was found in a toilet after the walls of a dilapidated pit toilet collapsed on him at Mmushi Primary School located in the same province. The re-occurrence of pit latrine drownings continue to cast a harsh spotlight on the ANC government. The same government that has vowed to do away with pit latrines in 2014 following the death of Michael Komape.
Not much has been done in terms of implementing minimum uniform norms and standards for public school infrastructure, which banned pit toilets at schools and created a legal responsibility for the national and provincial education departments to eradicate them at schools. On a community level, there is a growing sense of hopelessness in the government to fulfil its promise of eradicating pit toilets at schools. In addition, there is fear and panic among parents that their children can become victims, while their children are not spared from the indignity, discomfort and danger of using pit latrines.
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