Currently, there are approximately 61 000 toilets of different types that have been provided to over 220,000 households in informal settlements with associated janitorial services.

Furthermore, over the past nine years, about 20 000 EPWP work opportunities have been created through janitorial services for the cleaning of the toilets. There are about 22 325 chemical and container toilets that have been provided where it is not possible to install full flush toilets.

The City has in this financial year installed full flush toilets in the following areas;

• Masiphumelele (93 flush toilets)

• Seskhona – Philippi (70 flush toilets)

• Stulo – Crossroads (5 flush toilets)

In addition to this, the City is in the process of installing full flush toilets in the following areas, which are scheduled to be finished from next month to early next year:

• Imizamo Yethu in Houtbay (75 flush toilets) and 

• Overcome Heights – Lavendar Hill (60 flush toilets). 

In May this year, the City installed 100 full flush toilets in Sweet Homes, Philippi, see the link: https://bit.ly/3X0JykV

During the 2020/21 financial year, the Department exceeded its annual target significantly in terms of providing toilets, with a total of 6484 toilets being provided across various areas in the city. Some of the informal settlement areas which had flush toilets installed were Simanyene in Strand (70 toilets), Sweet Homes (100) and Bongolethu in Philippi (58), as well as Dunoon Temporary Relocation Area (60).

‘The  City currently provides a range of sanitation solutions to settlements. It is not always possible to provide full flush toilets due to a range of technical, legal, infrastructural, land or zoning constraints for example, and the City therefore offers non-sewered or alternative sanitation solutions. The City is exploring the most appropriate options to ensure it is able to provide affordable, dignified, sustainable and socially acceptable sanitation,’ said Councillor Siseko Mbandezi, Acting Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

Janitors will be selected from the Jobseekers Database via the EPWP programme and be employed to clean and inspect the toilets and report on the condition of the toilets.

‘Residents are urged to please help City teams who are looking after the infrastructure. This is to ensure that this important sanitation service is not disrupted due to vandalism or foreign objects such as wipes, diapers, sanitary pads or any other item being flushed down the toilets causing the pipeline to be blocked. Only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed. Residents are encouraged to report any vandalism or sewer blockages as soon as possible so they can be resolved. Residents are also reminded to use solid waste services provided to get rid of their waste correctly,' said Councillor Mbandezi.

Resident can log their service request using one of the following channels:

•        Call 0860 103 089

•        SMS to 31373 (maximum 160 characters)

•        Email: water@capetown.gov.za

•        Online: www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests/

•        Visiting a walk-in centre

Anonymous tip-offs about vandalism welcomed:

If you have witnessed an incident or are aware of incidents that could still happen, please report it by phoning:

From a landline call 107 for free.

From a cellphone - call 021 480 7700 or call 112 for free and ask for City of Cape Town’s Public Emergency Call Centre.

CAPTION: The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate’s newly installed full flush toilets at a temporary location in Masiphumelele. Residents in this area were affected by a fire in December 2020.