SALIPSWU genuinely believes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s grief of the death of five (5) year-old Lumka Mkethwa from the Eastern Cape, who fell into a pit toilet at Luna Primary School, a few weeks ago. This tragic death of Mkethwa's comes four (4) years after the death of 5-year-old Micheal Komape who also died after falling into a pit toilet at Mahlodumela Primary School in Limpopo, says. Secretary – General of SALIPSWU, Cde. Thobile Ntola. 

The death of five (5)-year-old Lumka Mkethwa came as a result of lack of urgency by the Department of Basic Education, both in the Local, Provincial and National government.

The President expressed his heartfelt condolence for both the bereaved families during the launch of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative in Pretoria.

The contradiction, though is that his government spend millions of hard earned tax payer’s money to defend a court action initiated by SECTION 27, to let his government account for the calamity and pay for the loss of an innocent life.      

The eradication of unsafe schools and ablution facilities, and an audit and plans to deal with all unsafe facilities, particularly in our Schools, which remains a torn in the flesh is still glaring country-wide, rural areas of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West are the most vulnerable.

The other cowardice move of the President during launch of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative in Pretoria was his deafening silence about the mess former Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula mokonyane has left that Department. Bankrupt and Insolvent and instead she was promoted to be the Minister of Communications, ‘to communicate with who and about what?”

The other disturbing thing is the time factor set aside to start and end this initiative  in 2030 that will save lives and restore the dignity of tens of thousands of our children. The possibility is not excluded

that more children might die in the meantime whilst, technocrat’s, technicians, constructors, architects, beauocract’s, politicians speaking English. Our constitution demands the restoration of the respect and dignity of our children now!!!. Currently over 3000 schools across the country still make use of pit toilets

SALIPSWU is also nervous about bringing together his government, NGO’s, Private Sector etc. to embark on a Massive Project to do away with Pit Toilets and Upgrade Infrastructure in targeted Schools country-wide, because history told and awaken us that it is the usual tenderpreneurs, politically connected bourgeois, that will once again get preferential treatment, and pay kickbacks to their capitalist masters.

Issued by SALIPSWU