South Africa completes pit toilet eradication for schools

3 min read

The Department of Basic Education announced completion of all pit toilet eradication projects identified in the 2018 Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative audit, covering 3,372 schools. The department said more than 3 million learners and over 48,000 teachers now have access to safer sanitation, a programme launched after learner deaths prompted national scrutiny. The minister cautioned the announcement covers the 2018 audit backlog only and does not mean every pit toilet nationwide has been removed, and she pointed to a broader school infrastructure backlog exceeding R120 billion amid vandalism, natural disasters and budget constraints.

3,372 schools received safe sanitation facilities under the 2018 audit