More than 400 schools in the Eastern Cape still use pit toilets, while Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines fail to accommodate the needs of pupils and expose them to significant safety risks.
An investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found that traditional pit toilets remain a grim reality in 427 schools in the province, while VIP latrines often fail to meet the safety needs of pupils.
SAHRC said this dual failure continues to put the lives and dignity of South Africa’s youngest learners at risk.
The investigation was launched to look into the conditions of sanitation facilities in foundation phase schools in the Eastern Cape.
The province recently recorded the deaths of three children due to unsafe sanitation facilities, one at a traditional pit toilet at Luna Primary School in Mbizana, and two at VIP toilets at Mcgwagule Primary School in Vaalbank and Little Champions Daycare in Mdantsane.
The commission said while the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE) programme has replaced many traditional pit toilets, these replacements were frequently non-compliant with critical and safety standards outlined in the 2016 Water Research Commission (WRC) guidelines.
Features such as smaller pedestals, protective handles, offset pits, and reinforced structures, specifically recommended to ensure the safety of young children, are glaringly absent in many VIP installations.
SAHRC said this oversight has resulted in VIPs posing risks similar to the facilities they were meant to replace, eroding public trust in the state’s commitment to eradicating unsafe sanitation.
SAFE, meant to provide sufficient sanitation facilities to schools in South Africa, was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019.
SAHRC said the report revealed systemic challenges related to traditional pit toilets, VIP latrines, and even flush toilets.
Department of Basic Education (BDE) spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department was studying the report and would provide a detailed response in the next few days.
The report indicated that the situation was dire in schools such as Upper Gqumashe Lower Primary School, Yamala Primary School in Alice, and Sondaba Senior Primary School in Mount Fletcher. These schools relied on traditional pit toilets, which were deemed unsafe and inappropriate.
Carlisle Bridge Farm School in Makanda received the newly built VIP latrines but had not been handed for use, forcing the school to continue using pit toilets.
At Khiba Junior Secondary School, the commission found VIP latrines that had been built over a decade ago. However, these latrines were designed with large seats, making them unsuitable for small learners in the Foundation Phase.
The flush toilets were non-functional due to ongoing water supply challenges at ST Mary’s Senior Primary School in Herschel. This forced learners to use pit toilets.
The report also highlighted that many schools, even those with new sanitation facilities, lacked age-appropriate features and sufficient privacy, undermining the dignity and safety of learners.
It stated the both VIP and flush toilet systems faced maintenance and operational challenges including shallow trenches, water supply issues, and overcrowding.
“The continued existence of traditional pit toilets in South African schools is a glaring indictment of the state’s failure to meet its constitutional obligations,” read the report.
“Data submitted by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) in 2018 revealed that 1 598 schools across the province were still reliant on pit latrines. This figure, submitted to the Presidency and DBE, spurred the establishment of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) programme.
“Despite this initiative, 427 schools in the Eastern Cape alone continue to rely on unsafe and degrading pit toilets,” the report stated.
SAHRC said despite recommendations, the implementation of VIP latrines under the SAFE programme has fallen short. The commission said while 1 373 of 1 452 projects were completed by 2024/25 at a cost of more than R1.82 billion, the facilities often lacked the WRC-prescribed safety features.
“For example, at Lindokuhle Primary School in Bizana, newly constructed VIPs were found to lack age-appropriate features such as smaller seats or protective barriers, rendering them unsafe for younger learners. Similarly, at Khiba Junior Secondary School in Herschel, VIPs built more than a decade ago had large, adult-sized seats that posed significant hazards for children in the Foundation Phase.”
The commission added that negligence and a lack of adequate supervision also played a role.
It said the continued reliance on unsafe sanitation facilities in schools — both traditional pit toilets and poorly designed VIP latrines — constitutes a systemic violation of learners’ constitutional rights.
“These violations persist despite clear legislative and judicial directives, policy frameworks, and expert recommendations,” said SAHRC.
The report recommended that DBE must take urgent steps to ensure that all school sanitation facilities comply with the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure, particularly regarding the eradication of traditional pit toilets in the remaining 427 schools in the Eastern Cape.
It said the department must ensure all newly constructed facilities meet safety, hygiene, and accessibility requirements.
The report also added that progress under the SAFE programme must be expedited, and measures must be implemented to avoid further delays.
Asked if there would be enough money to improve the infrastructure, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure ministerial spokesperson, James de Villiers, said the national department was not responsible for school infrastructure, adding that questions should be directed to the relevant provincial department.
Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Vuyani Nkasayi, said questions should be sent to DBE.