DA concerned about Toilets at Divhani

Makhado 

The DA has reported the Limpopo Department of Education to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after it failed to build proper sanitation facilities at Divhani Primary School in Divhani village outside Makhado.

Learners are forced to relieve themselves in the bushes because the available and dangerous pit toilets are on the verge of collapsing.

The deplorable conditions at the school came to light during a DA oversight inspection on Tuesday.

The school’s 340 learners have been warned not to use the dilapidated pit toilets at all due to their poor structural condition.

Posing a danger to the young lives.

The 10 educators at the school share two dilapidated corrugated iron toilets which are not in a good condition as well. Teachers and learners are deeply distressed by the fact that the toilets might collapse on them and cause injury, and in the extreme – death.

The matter has been reported to the Department as well as MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe in 2015 but no attempt has been made to provide temporary mobile toilets, and in the long-term flushing toilets.

According to the minimum norms and standards for public school infrastructure, all schools must have a sufficient number of sanitation facilities, must be easily accessible to all, provide privacy and security and promote health and hygiene standards but that does not apply at this rural school.

Furthermore, it states that bucket toilets and plain pit toilets are not allowed in schools and there must be at least 1 toilet for every 20 learners but there are none at the school.

The party urged SAHRC to commence their investigations into the violations with immediate effect.