The City of Cape Town said its ongoing sanitation upgrades programme has delivered more than 3 600 toilets across informal settlements since July last year.

The City added that nearly 5 000 repair and maintenance interventions have taken place. These interventions aim to keep existing facilities functional and accessible.

Major investment in Imizamo Yethu

One of the latest projects took place in Imizamo Yethu. The City invested R1,8 million to upgrade sanitation infrastructure in the area.

Officials said ageing structures had reached the end of their lifespan. Some had also been damaged or vandalised.

The upgrades included removing old structures and installing new precast concrete toilets. Workers also upgraded taps to improve access to clean water.

Focus on dignified service delivery

Mayco member for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien said the programme forms part of the City’s broader service delivery commitment.

“Our focus remains on ensuring every resident, regardless of where they live, has access to dignified and reliable sanitation services,” he said.

He added that the new facilities complement existing infrastructure in the area.

These include 338 full flush toilets, 132 chemical toilets and 68 portable flush toilets.

Jobs created through sanitation projects

The City said it installed full flush toilets where conditions allowed. These systems are easier to maintain and offer a more sustainable and dignified solution.

To support maintenance, the programme created 24 janitorial jobs. The Expanded Public Works Programme appointed workers from the local community.

Badroodien said the workers play a key role in keeping facilities functional.

“In addition to cleaning, they help report faults so that maintenance teams can respond more quickly,” he said.

Areas targeted for upgrades

Recent sanitation upgrades focused on Donsteyakhe, Imizamo Yethu SAPS, Penzance, Depotsite TRA and Huguenot.

The City has also planned further work in Philippi, Gugulethu, Delft, Khayelitsha, Strand and Langa between April and June this year.

Ongoing challenges remain

Despite the improvements, sanitation in informal settlements continues to face challenges. Maintenance issues, vandalism and access barriers still affect service delivery.

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