Crèche children denied the use of toilets

An argument between a crèche teacher and the Nkobongo community hall caretaker has left about 75 children from two local crèches without toilets.

For the past three weeks, the children between the ages of three and five years have been forced to relieve themselves in buckets and their faeces are being buried in a vegetable garden.

Dudu Mazibuko, founder of the Ntandokazi Crèche, said they had been permitted by ward councillor Ali Ngidi and the ward committee to use the hall since last year.

“When we arrived, there were toilets for children and toilets for the elders. However the children’s toilets were in a bad state and we were told that while waiting for the toilets to be fixed, we could use the elders’ toilets. I was told by my staff that one of my teachers had an argument with the caretaker and the toilets have been locked since. I heard that the reason was that children were messing up the toilets and we were not cleaning up after them,” she said.

The crèche owner said she would not mind cleaning the toilets, but someone was already employed to do that. No one told them that since the children were using the toilets the crèche must also clean the toilets.

“I feel that this could have been sorted out, should someone have come to me and told me that we must start cleaning the toilets. I was told that one of my teachers did report the issue to the councillor but he also has not contacted me or helped us. We do not know what to do,” said Mazibuko.

Zanele Khoza, the caretaker, said she was not employed to clean the hall, but did it voluntarily. Therefore she believed it unfair for crèche teachers to say they would not clean the toilets because she was working there.

“I am with the Community Work Programme (CWP) and since we keep our tools at the hall, I thought I should help to keep the hall clean. So as people who use the hall on a daily basis, they must also clean it,” said Khoza.

Cllr Ngidi said he was aware of the issue and agreed that the argument was due to the children messing up the toilets.

“I have asked the municipality to fix the broken toilets, doors and windows of the hall. The issue is currently with the supply chain management and I am expecting them to let me know soon when the work will start,” said Ngidi.

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