The Water Research Commission lamented the disparity in access to proper sanitation in South Africa as the country marked the UN’s World Toilet Day on Saturday.
The United Nations says that 3.6 billion people in the world still live with poor-quality toilets that damage their health and pollute the environment.
Water Research Commission CEO Jennifer Molwantwa says not everyone has experience with flushing a toilet.
“Some people in South Africa do not have access to water and sanitation. But more importantly, with those who have access, there are still many differences related to where you come from and the type of sanitation you use. Here we are talking about the problems associated with underserved urban informal settlements, some rural areas, and tribal and trust lands. But also, even in cities, depending on where you come from, not everyone has experience with what we call a flush toilet.”
Cape Town installs flush toilets
“Cape Town authorities have said they are installing around 500 new flush toilets in various informal settlements.
The United Nations has designated November 19 as World Toilet Day to encourage action by the estimated 4 billion people who live without adequate toilets.
Acting mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Ciseka Mbandezi, says that while flush toilets cannot always be provided in informal settlements, the city is exploring the most appropriate options.
Mbandezi says that over the past nine years, they have been able to supply more than 22,000 toilets with chemical containers where it was not possible to install full-flush toilets.
World Toilet Day highlights sanitation challenges in Nelson Mandela Bay:
