MEMBERS of the SOS Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) partnered with Amalooloo Sanitation Providers and Concor Construction to restore the dignity of learners at Mampondo Primary School in Flagstaff by building 12 new cubicles in less than a month.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the SOS Non-Profit Organisation, Shelley Humphreys, they decided to install 12 new cubicles after learning about the challenges faced by the learners at this school.
Earlier this year, two learners allegedly fell into pit latrines but were fortunately rescued.
“We know that other children have not been so lucky and have tragically drowned in these death traps at schools that have not yet been upgraded. Our partnership with Amalooloo is essential.
“Amalooloo has been working in the sanitation industry for over 30 years and has developed toilets specifically for rural areas or locations without a consistent water supply,” she said.
She added that Amalooloo’s model, which separates solid and liquid waste at the source, eliminates the need for septic tanks and centralised sewers.
This design prevents the creation of faecal sludge, which is notoriously difficult to dispose of. Humphreys noted that the company acted swiftly, completing the installation of 12 new cubicles in less than a month.
Humphreys confirmed that the project was largely funded by Concor Construction, currently involved in the Msikaba River Bridge Project, which will become the largest bridge in South Africa.
“They generously stepped in when they heard about the pit latrine incidents and offered to fund the infrastructure.
“I would like to thank Lumar Fourie, Director of Amalooloo, for partnering with us on the Pitstop Eradica Tour project, as well as Stephan Strydom, the Project Manager for the Mampondo school installation.”
Traditional Leader of the Sicwenza locality, Chief Gcinisizwe Somacala, expressed gratitude for the NGO’s efforts.
“Our children were not safe because the toilets they were using were in a wet area, which put their lives at risk. I heard about learners nearly drowning, but that incident happened a long time ago; it did not happen this year,” said Somacala.
Feziwe Boko, an additional member of the School Governing Body (SGB), also expressed appreciation for the intervention.
“Our children are very young, yet they were forced to use toilets with large seats, which posed a significant risk.
“Now we have high-quality toilets, and we will ensure they are kept clean, just as we maintained the old ones.
“However, our school still needs more improvements, as it is an old structure,” Boko said.
