The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements is studying the recent report released by the Statistics South Africa which records an increase in number of buckets toilets in the province.
The department says it is studying the contents of the report to ascertain where the increase has occurred in the province. It is likely that this increase is in the informal areas, not the formal areas which has already been counted and budgeted for, the department said. Statistics South Africa reported that while there was a 6.2% increase in sewerage and sanitation service provision in South Africa between 2012 and 2013, the Eastern Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal reported increases in the use of the bucket toilet system. According to the report, the number of people still using the bucket system increased from 38 606 in 2012 to 52 732 in 2013. DA to submit report to SAHRC Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) has handed over a complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the rapid increase of the use of the bucket toilet system, particularly in the Eastern Cape. “We will assist the SAHRC to determine why and where these horrific bucket toilet systems exist and how to get rid of them. We will also hand over our photographic evidence to the SAHRC following our own investigation,” said DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Kevin Mileham. According to Mileham, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality is the largest contributor in the country to the bucket toilet problem, with approximately 10% of all bucket toilets in South Africa found here. “Our own investigations put the number at approximately 38 000 across the municipality. Right here in Walmer Township, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality services 3065 bucket toilets. That is more bucket toilets in one township than there are in the entire Western Cape, according to StatsSA. And I use the term ‘services’ very loosely, as days go by where the municipal collection and disposal of human waste does not occur.”Addressing the problem
“The department reassures the people of the Eastern Cape, particularly those still using the bucket toilet system that the Bucket Eradication Programme which was launched last year in Grahamstown. Construction is also underway in Makana, Paterson, Baviaans, Steynsburg, Indwe, Jansenville, Somerset and Ndlambe,” the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements said in a statement. Nurcha has been commissioned to provide programme management services for the Bucket Eradication Programme in the Eastern Cape. As such, an amount R94 060 000 has been allocated to night projects across eight municipalities who have a bucket toilets in the province. Bucket eradication is focused on three district municipalities: Cacadu, Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, with a total of eight municipalities to benefit from this programme inclusive of local municipalities. Out of this programme water-bone sewerage systems will be constructed and households connected to the flush system. Furthermore, VIP latrines in the townships of Grahamstown and Port Alfred will be eradicated through replacement by proper top structures and sewerage network. The Bucket Eradication Programme is meant to eradicate buckets in three phases:- Phase1: eradicate 2 827 buckets and 3 293 malfunctioning VIPs in the formal areas in the province
- Phase2: eradicate buckets(still to be quantified) in the informal areas of the province
- Phase3: address sanitation backlogs to households without access to sanitation in the province.
