Beneficiaries of VIP toilets should take pride in using them, as they are hygienic with less health risks, the Human Settlements Ministerial Sanitation Task Team (MSTT) advised villages in Disake village in the North West province on Thursday.
After visiting the on-going 300 VIP toilet project in the village, the MSTT commended the North West Provincial Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison and Moses Kotane Local Municipality for providing dignified toilets to its communities.
The task team advised on the usage and further encouraged the municipality to conduct consumer education on the services they render, as most of the toilets used in the rural municipality are VIP and ordinary pit latrines.
“We are pleased with the progress made in this most rural municipality that depends on grants, to ensure proper delivery of sanitation services where they are needed most” said chairperson of the team Advocate Nomazotsho Memani.
The team was informed of plans between the Provincial Human Settlements department and the municipality to address the sanitation backlogs over next the three financial years to be in line with the millennium goal. According to the Acting Mayor, Councillor Thomas Manganye priority will be given to low cost housing beneficiaries who do not have proper toilets.
Manganye further informed the team about its budgetary challenges and the fact that sanitation budget was cut, making it more difficult to address the already existing backlog.
The team advised the municipality to work with relevant stakeholders in addressing the challenge in all its villages.
The MSTT is mandated to establish the scale of the sanitation problem, its nature and further identify irregularities and malpractices and report back to the Minister by January next year with recommendations relating to policy gaps, legislative short comings, budgetary issues or any other matters.
The team concludes its weeklong fact finding mission in Kgetleng Local Municipality today.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0140
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: (018)381 0328
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
