Stink over open-air toilets still festering

The SA Human Rights Commission yesterday said it was not satisfied with the way in which Cape Town's open-air toilets had been enclosed.

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, the commission and Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba yesterday inspected the newly enclosed toilets in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.

Makhaza hit the headlines in 2009 when it emerged that residents had to use toilets in full view of their neighbours.

Pictures of people relieving themselves with only a blanket for privacy sparked a national outcry.

It took violent protests, an urgent application to the Cape Town High Court and an investigation by the commission to end the saga.

After the walkabout yesterday, the commission's deputy chairman, Pregs Govender, said the commission was still dissatisfied.

"We are absolutely not satisfied with what we saw in Khayelitsha today. The problem is that the people who make policy are not listening to the people who are at the receiving end of the implementation," said Govender.

"In the examples we saw in Makhaza was a toilet built for somebody who is disabled but cannot go into [it] because it is too small."

De Lille said the city had complied with the court order and enclosed 1030 toilets with concrete structures after consulting the residents.

"The speed of the city's response stands in stark contrast to other parts of the country, such as Rammulotsi, in the Free State, where there are reports that literally hundreds of toilets remain unenclosed," said De Lille.

Makgoba said some of the toilet enclosures needed "attention" but he was glad that the mayor and residents were able "to celebrate the little achievement".

"There's a mixture of feelings. I'm happy there is progress but, because this is a fundamental right of God's people, I hope there will be some form of acceleration in terms of delivery.

"I'm aware of the backlog, the bureaucracy . but it is people's dignity that I'm pained about," said Makgoba.

Govender said the commission would discuss during a public hearing in Cape Town today a report on sanitation nationwide.