Following sustained pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the community, the municipality has finally installed five new toilets in the Mahlakung informal settlement.
This intervention comes after the DA exposed the appalling and undignified conditions faced by residents who were forced to rely on overflowing and poorly maintained long-drop toilets.
While the installation of five additional bucket toilets, two of which are suitable for persons with disabilities, is a step in the right direction, it is important to note that the municipality buckled under pressure to comply with demands. (See photos here)
Access to safe and dignified sanitation is not a favour from the municipality; it is a constitutional obligation.
Communities should not have to endure inhumane conditions, media exposure, and political pressure before basic services are delivered. (See photos here and here)
Although these new toilets bring some immediate relief, they do not resolve the underlying problem; temporary measures cannot replace proper planning, maintenance, and long-term infrastructure investment.
Residents of Mahlakung deserve more than reactive measures; they deserve sustainable, dignified living conditions.
The DA therefore calls on the municipality to:
- Ensure the newly installed toilets are maintained and serviced on a regular schedule;
- Provide clear timelines for additional sanitation upgrades where still required;
- Present a concrete plan to formalise the Mahlakung informal settlement, including permanent sanitation, housing, and basic services;
- Engage transparently with the community on progress and accountability.
The DA will continue to monitor the situation and will escalate this matter should the municipality fail to follow through on providing all residents of Mahlakung with ablution facilities that are not an infringement on their dignity.