This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing thousands of learners and ANC supporters gathered at the Charles Mopeli Stadium at Phuthaditjhaba, QwaQwa.

Ramaphosa said he has noted the number of pit toilets at different schools in the province and assures the public that the plight faced by learners, who are subject to such poor conditions, is receiving his attention.

He explained government is working on measures to eradicate pit toilets and is certain the country will soon see progress in this regard.

According to the latest audit outcome of school sanitation facilities by the Basic Department of Education, there are more than 50 schools with pit latrines in QwaQwa alone. The report has indicated that schools with unacceptable sanitation, are still mainly found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West.

Issues pertaining to pit latrines made national headlines following the death of several pupils in school pit toilets last year.

Ramaphosa then instructed the Department of Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, to conduct an audit of school sanitation and develop a strategy to deal with the issue.

The department has thus far communicated that it will cost approximately R7 billion to demolish all school pit latrines in the country and ensure there is appropriate sanitation in those schools by the end of the 2019/20 fiscal year.

OFM News