EASTERN CAPE – Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) MEC Fundile Gade has welcomed the progress made on the completion of the pit latrine eradication project identified through the 2018 Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative audit backlog.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the full completion of all pit toilet eradication projects identified through the SAFE initiative audit backlog during her school infrastructure and sanitation oversight visit to Dimbaza Primary School outside Qonce earlier this week.
Speaking during her school sanitation visit at Dimbaza Primary School in the Buffalo City education district, Gwarube confirmed that all 3,372 schools identified in the 2018 SAFE audit have now been provided with safe and appropriate sanitation facilities.
“The completion of the SAFE Initiative has changed the daily reality of millions of learners and thousands of teachers. More than 3 million learners have benefited from safer sanitation facilities, while more than 48,000 teachers now work in healthier and more dignified environments,” said Gwarube.
Responding to Gwarube’s announcement, MEC Gade welcomed the report detailing the successful completion of the SAFE initiative aimed at the eradication of pit toilets in schools throughout the Eastern Cape and other rural provinces.
“As the ECDoE, we extend our gratitude to the Department of Basic Education for instituting the SAFE Initiative since its initial 2018 proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This initiative has substantially elevated the dignity, security and scholastic environment for learners and educators by replacing perilous pit latrines with suitable sanitation facilities,” said Gade.
However, Gade noted that while the SAFE initiative has concluded the projects identified in its preliminary assessments, there are still lingering pit latrines to be eradicated in the Eastern Cape.
“The Eastern Cape remains steadfast in its pursuit of this aim, notwithstanding considerable financial limitations. This sanitation oversight visit by the Minister provides an opportunity for us to showcase progress made by the ECDoE in eradicating unsafe pit latrines in the province, while also outlining remaining challenges and future plans,” added Gade.
The ECDoE has been allocated R2 billion for the current financial year towards the schools’ pit toilet eradication project.
The untimely death of young learners, Michael Komape, Lumka Mkhethwa and Langalam Viki, remains a constant reminder about pit toilets and unsafe sanitation facilities in schools.
Gwarube emphasised that the announcement confirms the successful completion of the backlog identified through the 2018 SAFE Initiative audit and does not suggest that every pit toilet in the country has disappeared.
She noted that some schools may have developed sanitation challenges after the original 2018 audit, others may have been unintentionally omitted, while some communities have retained old pit toilet structures despite receiving new facilities.
“I am pleased to announce that we have reached 100% completion of the 2018 Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative backlog. We have ensured that every school identified in the original 2018 audit as having unsafe pit toilets has now received safe and appropriate sanitation facilities,” said Gwarube.
While celebrating this significant milestone, Gwarube noted that South Africa continues to face a broader school infrastructure backlog exceeding R120 billion, with many schools still requiring classrooms, libraries, laboratories, fencing and other essential facilities.
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