Thaba Moshate handover toilets
"Living without decent toilets puts schoolchildren at risk of disease, pollutes the environment and specifically discourages girls from attending school. The new ablution facilities will dramatically change the learners' daily lives and learning environments, and we are privi-leged to be part of that change."
BURGERSFORT – While the 2019 school year is already in full swing, thousands of learners have returned to schools that have no flushing toilets or proper ablution facilities. This leaves them exposed to a number of life-threatening diseases.
However, pupils at Madinoge Primary School in Bothashoek will no longer have to endure the indignity and danger of using pit toilets.
According to a national audit ordered by the minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga, approximately 8 679 of a total
23 437 schools that were evaluated were still without flushing toilets in 2018.
The audit followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent appeal for the eradication of pit toilets. Heeding his call for financial support from the private sector, Thaba Moshate Hotel, Casino and Convention Resort donated R120 000 towards the conversion of pit toilets to 12 flushing toilet systems at Madinoge. Pupils and staff will also have access to one urinal and three hand basins as part of this donation.
“Thaba Moshate and Peermont support the SAFE (Sanitation Appropriate for Education) initiative launched by Ramaphosa to fast-track the eradication of pit toilets at South African schools,” said the resort’s general manager, Charlene Ludick.
“Living without decent toilets puts schoolchildren at risk of disease, pollutes the environment and specifically discourages girls from attending school. The new ablution facilities will dramatically change the learners’ daily lives and learning environments, and we are privi-leged to be part of that change.”
The newly installed flushing toilets were officially handed over to the school on January 23, with Thaba Moshate management and employees, as well as members of the student governing body in attendance.
