Dignity denied as more than 3,000 schools in South Africa still use pit toilets

GA-MASHASHANE, South Africa — At a high school in rural northern South Africa, more than 300 students and their teachers share three toilets, and that woefully lopsided figure isn’t the worst problem. Some of the pit toilets still used at more than 3,300 schools in poor, mostly rural areas across South Africa aren’t. They are not safe at all.” The Equal Education human rights group has been inspecting pit toilets in South African schools. We’re saying to them you’re not worthy of dignity.” Section27 is another human rights group pushing for the pit toilets to be eradicated for “safe and decent sanitation facilities.” Section27 supported Michael Komape’s family in their legal action against the local and national education departments and they succeeded in getting a court ruling that authorities must provide updated information every six months on schools in the Limpopo province using pit toilets and the plans to replace them. But James Komape said the government hasn’t kept its side of an agreement to remove pit toilets and “many children are still in real danger.” At the Seipone Secondary School, the pit toilets are officially called ventilation improved toilets, and known as “VIP toilets.” They are anything but.