The Makana Municipality has embarked on a project to remove the Ventilated Improved Pit (Vip) toilets and replace them with flushing toilets in Hlalani township. The project is part of the municipality's bucket toilet eradication programme which started in 2004.
The Makana Municipality has embarked on a project to remove the Ventilated Improved Pit (Vip) toilets and replace them with flushing toilets in Hlalani township. The project is part of the municipality's bucket toilet eradication programme which started in 2004.
Municipal spokesperson Thandy Matebese said the municipality wants to do away with VIP toilets altogether. “This is a response to complaints made by the community members, who experienced problems with the VIP toilets,” explained Matebese.
He said about R7-million has been set aside for the project in Hlalani. Matebese could not say which other areas will benefit from the project next as there are various areas which are still using VIP toilets. “We will also go to other areas that do have flushing toilets and people in those areas must wait,” Matebese said.
Bonginkosi Shembe of TNT Enterprises, the company which was awarded the tender to complete the project, said they have covered 10 to 15% of the work that has to be done. “We have started by digging trenches for house connections and we will put bedding and lay the pipes,” said Shembe.
He said the project is anticipated to continue until April 2011. Shembe said: “We have experienced problems with the weather, where we had to stop working because of rain.” He added that the project has opened 15 opportunities of employment for Hlalani residents.
Meanwhile, residents expressed their gratitude for the project. A 92-year-old woman from Hlalani, Emma Ntlanjeni, said she was happy about the new toilets. “We had problems with flies in the toilets, it gets worse when it's raining because the pit gets flooded with water. The smell that is coming from the toilets is unbearable, and is posing a health hazard.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said "the pit latrines" are not safe for children. “Sometimes kids just go to the toilet thinking it's the same as other toilets, not knowing the dangers of the toilets that we are using. This is going to be a relief for us, knowing that our kids will be safe when using the toilets.”
