Basic Education Minister
By Karabo Marifi
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has revealed that some schools are refusing to demolish old pit toilets even after the installation of new sanitation facilities. The schools cite the need for backup options due to maintenance issues with the new toilets.
Speaking to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Gwarube explained that the ongoing reliance on pit latrines is due to a lack of maintenance in certain areas. She noted that while most schools now have the basic infrastructure in place, progress is being slowed by municipalities that cannot deliver essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation.
“Some municipalities have completely collapsed, and governance in some municipalities does not exist. And so, these schools exist within municipalities, and we can’t remove them from them. So, if a municipality can’t pay its bills, employees, it tells you that it can’t be able to provide basic services even for the schools,” she said.
The minister stressed that her department is not responsible for financially supporting struggling municipalities but highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between national, provincial, and local governments to address infrastructure challenges.
Gwarube confirmed that only 137 pit toilets from the 2018 backlog remain, reflecting a 96% completion rate. However, she acknowledged the department missed its 31 March deadline to fully eliminate all pit latrines.
The minister also flagged future challenges, noting that over 13,000 schools need additional toilets to accommodate growing learner numbers, which will require R14 billion.
To address maintenance issues, the department is reinforcing the implementation of the Education Infrastructure Strategy, which mandates that 60% of the Education Infrastructure Grant be allocated toward maintenance. According to the department, an estimated R10 billion is needed annually for preventative maintenance and R14 billion for reactive maintenance.
The Department of Basic Education has also launched the Safe Schools App, allowing communities to report remaining pit latrines, empowering real-time data collection and boosting transparency in the drive to eliminate unsafe sanitation facilities. 
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