On Thursday, 27 November, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, and local Ward Councillor Kayalethu Gxasheka joined representatives from the Water Research Commission (WRC), WEC Water and other project partners, to hand over 27 full flush toilets as part of an innovative, off-grid high-tech sanitation solution to the residents of the OR Tambo Informal Settlement in Khayelitsha.

OR Tambo informal settlement is the fourth community in Cape Town to benefit from the Innovative Sanitation Technology Pilot Project, made possible through a partnership between the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate, WRC and the Gates Foundation.

Construction at this site began in September 2025, with the official handover concluded in three months. This installation forms part of a broader 12-month pilot programme currently under way across multiple sites.

The 27 toilets are housed in three refurbished 12-metre shipping containers. Each of the three containers houses nine full-flush toilet cubicles, retrofitted with a washbasin, sanitary bin and accessible options for persons with disabilities.

The system is fully off-grid and self-sustaining, powered by both solar and wind energy. Wastewater is treated on-site using a compact modular plant and reused for flushing, eliminating the need for bulk sewer connections. This climate-resilient design is ideal for informal settlements where space and infrastructure capacity are limited.

The innovative technology offers a practical solution for informal settlements facing constraints such as limited sewer access, dense living conditions and growing service demand — while ensuring residents receive safe, reliable and dignified sanitation.

The toilets will be maintained by two on-site, technical assistants who were appointed from the local community to work alongside up to three janitors at each site, responsible for cleanliness and upkeep.

In addition, WEC Water as the technology service provider, will oversee all operations and maintenance of the plant during the first 12 months.

‘This project has been a long time coming and finally it has materialised. It’s a major milestone to have reached a point where handover to the community has taken place. Thank you to everyone involved,’ said OR Tambo community leader, Sakhiwo Njobe.

‘We are asking residents to partner with us in protecting this system. It can only operate efficiently if used correctly by flushing only pee, poo and toilet paper. With responsible use, this high-tech facility will continue serving the community safely and sustainably,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

The City remains committed to exploring innovative, sustainable sanitation solutions for informal settlements. The final installation in this pilot programme is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026 at the Rasta Camp in Ocean View.