Government Nears Goal as 93% of Pit Toilets Are Eliminated Ahead of Deadline
A pit latrine is seen in a private house, in Kanana township, North West Province, on June 20, 2023. Oratile Diloane was just five when he slipped into a hole full of human waste, and rescued by a gardener using rope. He may have survived drowning, but the injuries suffered at his pre-school in May 2016, left him severely brain damaged. Pit toilets are open latrines, typically consist of a concrete slab on the ground with a drop hole that is at least three metres (10 feet) deep. They are common in rural, with over 3,300 schools in South Africa using similar rudimentary latrines, according to government. (Photo by Luca Sola / AFP) (Photo by LUCA SOLA/AFP via Getty Images)
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has announced that 93% of pit toilets in South African schools have been eradicated, with efforts intensifying to meet the government’s 31 March 2025 deadline to eliminate them completely.
The Basic Education Department has been under pressure to address the long-standing issue of unsafe and unhygienic pit toilets, which have posed serious health risks to learners across the country. Gwarube confirmed the progress during a recent visit to affected schools, where she emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and dignified sanitation facilities for all students.
Progress and Challenges
During her site visit to Vulingcobo Junior Secondary School in Xhora, near Elliotdale in the Eastern Cape, Gwarube acknowledged the significant strides made but admitted that challenges remain in completely eradicating pit toilets in some rural areas. The department has been working in collaboration with provincial governments and private sector partners to expedite infrastructure upgrades.
“The safety and dignity of our learners are our top priorities. We are working tirelessly to ensure that no child has to use a dangerous and unsanitary pit toilet. The progress we’ve made is commendable, but we are pushing even harder to ensure that every school has proper sanitation facilities by the end of March,” Gwarube said.
Despite the rapid progress, concerns persist about whether the remaining 7% of pit toilets will be eradicated before the deadline. Some rural schools, particularly in remote areas, still lack the necessary infrastructure to support modern sanitation systems.
Calls for Accountability
Civil society organizations and education activists have long criticized the slow pace of eliminating pit toilets, calling for greater accountability and transparency in the rollout of proper facilities. Organizations such as Equal Education have urged the government to publish real-time data on completed projects and outline clear plans for addressing the remaining gaps.
“While we welcome the progress made, we urge the government to ensure that all schools—especially those in deeply rural areas—receive the necessary support to transition to safe and dignified sanitation facilities,” said a spokesperson from Equal Education.
A Step Toward Safer Schools
The eradication of pit toilets aligns with broader efforts to improve infrastructure in South African schools. Over the past decade, numerous initiatives have aimed to upgrade classrooms, water supply systems, and safety measures to create conducive learning environments.
Gwarube reaffirmed that her department remains committed to meeting the deadline, with additional resources and emergency interventions being deployed to tackle outstanding cases. “We will not stop until every school in the country has proper and safe sanitation,” she said.
As the 31 March deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the Department of Basic Education to see whether the promise of eradicating pit toilets will be fully realized. For thousands of learners, this initiative represents a crucial step toward dignity, safety, and the right to a proper education.
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