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The bucket sanitation system has been completely eradicated in Gauteng. The last area which still had the dehumanising bucket sanitation is Ratanda Township in Lesedi Local Municipality and was officially eradicated today by the Provincial Government in Partnership with the Municipality.

Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Jacob Mamabolo says the residents of Ratanda informal settlements will no longer be subjected to a use of dehumanising bucket system after the handover of chemical toilets.

MEC Jacob Mamabolo and Lesedi Executive Mayor Cllr. Lerato Maloka provided the community of Ratanda with the new sanitation as part of a programme to eradicate the remaining bucket system in Gauteng.

MEC Mamabolo said whilst there are challenges with pit latrines and chemical toilets in Gauteng’s informal settlements, the eradication of bucket system is a major achievement. “We have taken a decision to replace the bucket system and provide chemical toilets that are far better than the buckets the residents have been using for more than two decades. This is only for temporary as we will be moving the residents to a new area development with flushing toilets and other amenities,” said Mamabolo.

Ratanda’s use of bucket system was highlighted by the provincial Water and Sanitation Forum which was formed early this year. The forum’s mandate is to manage water and sanitation challenges including the eradication of all backlogs in the province.

He said Lesedi Local Municipality is the only municipality in Gauteng that was still using bucket system. He said this does not mean government has address all the sanitation challenges, but they have ensure the complete eradication of bucket system.

“We have removed all the remaining bucket system in Ratanda ext. 2 and Gauteng is a now bucket free province. We have made arrangements with the recycling company to destroy all the bucket system because we don’t want a situation where these buckets will be resurface, “mentioned Mamabolo.

On the day the MEC also marked the sod-turning for new housing development where residents of the informal settlements will be moved. The project will yield more than 238 serviced stands with 193 houses for bucket system beneficiaries.  “We are going to provide serviced stands for those who don’t qualify for free government subsidy but can afford to build their own houses in line with the housing standards,” said MEC Mamabolo.

Furthermore the department also handed over at least 5 houses to elderly women of the Obed Mthombeni housing project. The project will provide more than 5000 houses for the residents of Ratanda upon completion.

The Provincial Government has already eradicated the bucket system backlogs in areas such as Merafong, Evaton, Khutsong and Masechaba View, Lesedi, Bekkersdal and Wedela/Kokosi.

Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government