Siyavuya Mzantsi
BM SECTION residents have welcomed the government’s interim sanitation solution in the area, but said the 10 toilets would be in high demand and result in long queues in Khayelitsha.
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane unveiled two pilot projects at BM Section informal settlement in Site B and at the BT informal settlement in Site C on Friday.
The two sites consisted of 10 flush toilets each – five for women and five for men. Two security guards will be deployed in each facility all day and residents will have access 24 hours a day.
BM Section resident Zodwa Mbana said people from the other part of the informal settlement were “suffering severely” when it came to accessing toilets.
“We were saying as a community that they should have at least put more toilets for this pilot project. Some people do not have toilets at all.
“We understand this is a pilot project, but we feel they should have installed more because toilets in this area are in high demand,” Mbana said.
Belinda Bonga said the old communal toilets were too far away and not accessible at night, nor was it safe for women and children.
“Sometimes they are blocked or not cleaned. These (new) ones will be in demand, considering the need for toilets in this area.
“They are close to the people. There will also be an issue of privacy because although they are closed, you can hear what the other person is doing on the other side.
“There are going to be long queues here.”
Pamela Sikhumba said: “Our concern is that they are very few and that is what will cause problems among residents.”
Mokonyane explained that one unit could provide for about 50 households, depending on the size.
She visited both sites on Friday and interacted with residents before addressing the crowd at Khayelitsha stadium.
“We are intervening here based on the conditions. Every solution must respond to the situation on the ground.
“We’re not providing a toilet for every shack around here. We are providing a communal solution which then reduces the demand for water,” she said.
Her department committed itself to waiting for feedback from residents and plans are to expand the project if the residents accepted it.
“Now we have a project that is going to accommodate many households. The beauty about it is that it is waterborne and it is communal.
“We are working together with various local authorities as well as community-based organisations in providing alternative sanitation solutions,” said Mokonyane.
Part of the department’s intention for decent sanitation was about dealing with safety of women and children.
“It’s about making sure we bring solutions that can improve the quality of life for our people,” Mokonyane said.