Concerned community members and staff members complained to our sister publication Lowvelder Express about the poor sanitation at this clinic, arguing that they stand huge risks of contracting diseases.

The 23 employees, including nurses, doctors, general workers and patients, are forced to use the unhygienic pit toilets.

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During its visit, this paper was met with the unbearable odour coming from the toilets.

“This has been going on since March after the toilets inside the clinic broke down and were never fixed. We have
to share two dry pit toilets among ourselves while patients share the two other pit toilets,” said employees who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Some of us have even opted to stop drinking water or any liquid substance during the day to avoid the need to use the toilets. The management is aware of this plight, but we are just kept in the dark with no one updating us as to when they will be fixed,” they added.

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The employees said they now live in fear of contracting and spreading the Covid-19 pandemic and other diseases.
The management of the clinic denied the allegations of poor sanitation, stating that they have flushing toilets.
Lowvelder Express also learned that the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has not received any complaints about the toilets from the clinic and it was not on the department’s lists of clinics to receive new toilets during this financial year.

“The department is not aware of the allegations since the facility in question is the responsibility of the Department of Health,” said Bongani Dlamini, spokesperson for public works.

At the time going to press, the Department of Health had yet to respond.