Central SA
Health concerns over pit toilets in Upington – PHOTO GALLERY─── ZENANDE MPAME 17:30 Fri, 31 Mar 2023
Residents of the Paballelo township in Upington have several health concerns because of the pit toilets they use.
According to a female resident in the township, Fabean Olane, the pit toilets don’t get picked up or emptied by the municipality. The females in her family struggle because they easily pick up infections while using the pit toilets.
Once these toilets or buckets are not emptied, worms start to roam around and it makes the children and family members sick.
When they go to the clinic for medication, the nurses accuse them of sleeping with men and being promiscuous.
“When we go to the clinic to get medication for the infections, they shout at us and say we are sleeping around. That is not true, it is because of the buckets,” she explained.
Chapman Hinana, who is also a family member, complained that he has been at the municipal offices at least two times to ask that they come and empty the buckets, but his efforts were all in vain.
His other concern in the community is the lack of speed bumps. He says cars drive by at high speeds and he is concerned because he has little children who play in the street.
He also visited the municipal offices regarding this, but they do not care and they will only do something once an accident occurs or someone loses their life.
“I don’t know how many times I have visited the municipal offices to ask them to build speed bumps but they do not care. They are waiting for an accident to happen and then they will do it.