An Alexandra youth is spearheading efforts to restore the dignity and health of her township counterparts by eradicating the bucket toilet system.
The system still exists in parts of Alexandra after 20 years of democracy despite government’s commitment to change this negative condition.
Candice Sehoma (21) grew up using the deplorable system only to realise its health dangers after enrolling at a former Model C school where toilets were private and clean spaces. She couldn’t tolerate the bucket toilets since then because of their abhorrent smell and competition for them from overcrowded shack tenants that surrounded her home.
She resolved to change her circumstances in 2006 after joining the Rose Act project’s Saturday school programme where she spent her weekends wisely.”The programme improved my education, gave me life skills and through outings to the airport, companies and engaging with different professionals, I became aware of the importance of developing my self esteem and empowering my self,” she said. “It made me think of improving the health conditions of my immediate surroundings.”
She started by establishing a non-governmental organisation in 2012, Building Blocks Foundation, with three other former Rose Act mates. Last year they canvassed 50 households near her home who contributed R100 per household and labour, and with the foundation’s own contribution, they constructed the first flush toilet.
“Some people were reluctant at first but joined when they saw visible results of our work, and since then 11 toilets have been constructed on 7th, 8th,12th and 13th avenues,” she added. The city council supported their effort by connecting the toilets to its sewer and water mains to make for fully functioning flush toilets. “We are constructing 30 more this year and hope this will encourage other youths not to be complacent but to take their destiny into their own hands. We need to continue liberating ourselves through various means and we choose to do so by improving our health conditions.”
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