Pretoria - While poor sanitation has claimed the lives of more than 10 million children under the age of five in developing countries since the beginning of the millennium, South African private companies, government and non-governmental organisations are pulling their weight to restore children’s dignity.
Co-head for Equal Education Tshepo Motsepe said sanitation in many Gauteng schools was in dire straits, but since the launch of their campaign to improve school sanitation, the Gauteng Department of Education has shown significant commitment to the need.
Motsepe said many of the schools in previously disadvantaged communities had never been given the upgrades and new infrastructure they so desperately needed because of apartheid. “We applaud efforts by private companies to refurbish school toilet facilities that are dilapidated. We encourage them to look into building new toilet blocks,” Motsepe said.
The 1 350 pupils at the Jan Kotlolo primary school in Nellmapius were all smiles as the refurbished toilets were unveiled, courtesy of Domestos.
Principal Sylvester Sibanyoni said he had been desperate to fix the school’s toilets ever since he took over. While they managed to raise the funds, some contractors had done a shoddy job and they have been struggling to help pupils. “It’s always been my dream to give my learners a school they can be proud of, starting with the toilets, but the contractors let us down.
“The plastering in the toilets was falling off and the toilet seats were broken,” he said.
“Domestos really came through for our school and you can see the excitement on the kids’ faces. They are constantly in the toilet looking at themselves in the mirror and the sense of pride that has been restored is immense,” said Sibanyoni.
Gomolemo Mokemane, a 12-year-old pupil, recited his poem “The battle of toilets is won” at the handover. “It was really hard to use the toilet before as it was dirty and stinking. Even though I’m leaving the school, I hope the younger ones who are staying behind will take care of the toilets,” he said.
Cynthia Luthuli, brand manager for Domestos, said this was not just an effort for World Toilet Day but a campaign the company had been championing for the past four years. “We have numerous schools on the waiting list and we focus on schools in previously disadvantaged communities, those with access to water and a good management system to ensure the upkeep of the (facilities) once we are done,” she said.
“We fixed all 12 toilets in the school. The project is worth R250 000. Our target is to be able to improve sanitation… and better conditions for 1.4 million learners by 2020,” said Luthuli.
Pretoria News