Bloemhof in the North West was yet another city that benefitted from the many initiatives that were launched to as part of World Toilet Day, which was celebrated earlier this month. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, handed-over 154 completed sanitation facilities to the Bloemhof residents as part of the Bucket Eradication project.

The project, which had the theme “It’s not all about flushing”, aimed at addressing the legacy of bucket toilets.

“About 105 households benefited through replacement of bucket toilets with waterborne toilets,” the department said in a statement.

Desmond Ngubane is one of the elderly residents in the community who benefitted from the sanitation facilities. “We have struggled for so many years,” he said. “Today, I couldn’t be happier. My family will come home for Christmas and we will have a better toilet, not a pit.”

“The scope of the Bucket Eradication project comprised of connection to sewer network of 154 households, water reticulation of 115 households and installation of pre-cast toilet top structures of 57 households,” it added.

Mokonyane requested that residents of Bloemhof to be “the eyes and ears of government” by protecting the various facilities which were provided to improve the lives of communities.

“We have just handed over an upgraded waste water treatment plant to the municipality which will assist to ensure that waste is treated at an acceptable standard,” Mokonyane said. “The municipality has to further ensure that it employs people with relevant skills to operate the plant.”

Mokonyane also noted that ageing infrastructure, departments working in silos with sanitation budgets, vandalism of infrastructure and the lack of a dedicated budget for the operation and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure were some of the main challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that decent sanitation could be provided for all communities.