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The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will join the rest of the world to observe World Toilet Day to raise awareness about the lack of proper sanitation to 2.5 billion people world-wide.

This campaign aims to highlight the profound impact of the sanitation crisis in a rigorous manner and to bring to the forefront the health and emotional consequences as well as the economic impact of inadequate sanitation.

In 2013, United Nations (UN) announced that 19 November each year should be dedicated to stimulate dialogue and draw attention to the global sanitation challenges. UN also said by doing this, this will encourage action from governments around the globe to recommit themselves to curb the plight of those without proper sanitation.

This year this international day will be observed under the theme “Toilets and Jobs”, focusing on how sanitation or lack of it can impact on the livelihoods of the populace, particularly on health, safety and dignity of women and girls.

To observe this day, Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, will hand-over the completed sanitation facilities to beneficiaries in Bloemhof in North West on Tuesday, 24 November 2016.

In line with its international obligations, the Department of Water and Sanitation has made significant strides in ensuring that the previously disadvantaged communities who were at the receiving end of the previous regime, get proper and dignified sanitation.

One of the key programmes the Department is currently implementing is the Bucket Eradication Programme which aimed at address the legacy of bucket toilets four provinces, namely the Eastern Cape, Free State, North West and the Northern Cape.
The Department is proud to announce that bucket toilets in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North-West, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have been totally eradicated.

In 2015, DWS undertook verification of bucket toilet in formalised areas and confirmed some 52 238 buckets in the above mentioned provinces.  A total of 25 091 buckets have been eradicated to date and 27 147 buckets remain to be completed as follows;
In Free State, a total of 11 304 buckets are outstanding with 8712 toilets as work in progress and 2592 toilets remain to be constructed. Some of these projects will require bulk infrastructure to support the Bucket Eradication Programme.

In Northern Cape, a total of 1114 buckets remain of which 1114 toilet structures are completed but not yet flushing as the reticulation network is only 98% completed;
A total of 24 347 new toilet structures are completed, 9 197 toilets are flushing and handed over, whereas the remaining 15 843 toilets are work in progress as of 14 October 2016.The department recommits itself in working tirelessly to ensure that all inhumane structures are the thing of the past and to provide decent and dignified services to all community members.

Issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation