As we mark World Toilet Day on 19 November, we must face a difficult truth about our country: almost three decades into democracy, too many South African children still rely on unsafe pit toilets in their schools.
The existence of pit toilets in any school is not just a failure of infrastructure; it is a grave and unacceptable risk to the lives of our young people. The tragic stories of children who have lost their lives or faced harm in these conditions must haunt our collective conscience and serve as a sombre reminder that access to safe sanitation is not just a right, but a matter of life and death.
The painful reality is that we cannot change the past. However, we can — and we must — change the future. I am deeply committed to closing all pit toilets in our schools and ensuring that every pupil and teacher has access to safe, dignified sanitation facilities. This is not just a priority for me; it is a moral obligation for the country.
We owe it to our children to create a learning environment that respects and protects them. No child should face such indignity or danger in the very place meant to nurture their growth and potential.
Closing the pit toilet chapter in South Africa’s schools
Our commitment to closing all pit toilets in South Africa is resolute, and we are taking concrete steps to ensure that this vision becomes a reality. The Department of Basic Education has set an ambitious but necessary deadline: by 31 March 2025, all remaining identified pit toilets in schools across the country will be eradicated.
This is a promise made not only to our pupils but also to every South African who values the dignity and safety of our children. We are committed to seeing this through, understanding that until we do, the spectre of unsafe sanitation will continue to loom over our educational landscape.
This issue transcends politics and policies; it is about the core values of our society.
The removal of pit toilets from our schools is about more than just compliance with infrastructure goals. It is about showing our young people that we care about their health, safety and dignity. It is about recognising that sanitation is a fundamental part of a quality education.
A school cannot be a place of learning and growth if children feel unsafe, humiliated or neglected. Ensuring dignified sanitation is not an optional component of education; it is a fundamental right and an essential part of creating an environment where young people can learn and thrive.
World Toilet Day — advocating dignified sanitation
World Toilet Day is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a reminder of the global commitment to ensure that every individual has access to safe and dignified sanitation. The United Nations General Assembly established World Toilet Day to emphasise the vital role that sanitation plays in human health, dignity and development.
South Africa is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. However, we cannot wait until 2030. Our children deserve safe sanitation today.
I have put in place rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress, identify challenges and address them in real time.
By prioritising this issue within our education system, we are aligning with a global movement that recognises the transformative power of sanitation. We are also acknowledging that in our schools, the right to learn and the right to safe sanitation are deeply interconnected.
Monitoring progress towards the 2025 deadline
Since I have taken office one of my highest priorities has been to ensure that our efforts to eradicate pit toilets are executed effectively, efficiently and transparently. Infrastructure-implementing agents and their contractors are essential players in this mission, but they require active oversight and accountability.
To this end, I have put in place rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress, identify challenges and address them in real time.
As minister, I have made it a point to monitor the work of implementing agents closely. I will conduct regular site visits, meet implementing agents and review project timelines to ensure that all parties involved are held to the highest standards of accountability.
Where we find delays or deviations from the plan, we will act decisively to get projects back on track. Our goal is clear: to eliminate pit toilets from all South African schools. This deadline is non-negotiable because every day that passes without adequate sanitation is a day that puts our children at risk.
This issue transcends politics and policies; it is about the core values of our society. The right to sanitation is the right to health, dignity and education. It is the right of every child to feel safe and respected in their school environment. By working together, we can turn the page on the tragic legacy of pit toilets and create a future where every pupil has the support they need to succeed.
As we mark World Toilet Day, let us remember the children who have been affected by unsafe sanitation. Let us honour them by ensuring that no other child will have to face the same risks and indignities. Let us build an education system that not only prepares pupils for the future but also cares for their well-being, their safety and their dignity. DM