It’s 2025, and while many South African students are dreaming of their futures, some are still forced to face the nightmare of using dangerous pit toilets at school.
Despite repeated promises from the government, the deadline to eradicate these outdated and unsafe structures has once again been missed.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube recently came forward to confirm that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) did not meet its March 31st deadline to eliminate all pit toilets from schools across the country.
96% Done Isn’t Good Enough, Says the Public
According to Gwarube, 96% of the job is done—but that last 4% is still putting children at risk.
She stated that out of the 3,372 schools flagged back in 2018 by the SAFE Initiative, only 141 still have pit toilets. Of those, 90 are currently under construction, with an optimistic goal to finish them by July 2025.
“This is significant progress,” Gwarube admitted, “but it’s not a victory.”
She added that while the department has nearly wrapped up the 2018 audit, it’s clear that a new round of investigations is necessary—especially to catch schools built or overlooked after the original audit.
Promises, Delays, and Broken Deadlines
Let’s rewind a bit. Pit toilets were officially banned in 2013 through the Minimum Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.
The deadline for removing them? That was supposed to be 2016.
Then it got pushed to 2020. Then again to 2023. Now, even the 2025 goalpost is being moved.
This isn’t just about missed deadlines—it’s about missed opportunities to protect children. And for many South Africans, patience is running thin.
Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Top the List Again
In November 2024, Gwarube revealed that Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are still the provinces with the highest number of schools using pit toilets—405 and 170 schools respectively.
The numbers came out during a parliamentary exchange with Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane.
Other provinces like Mpumalanga (40 schools) and Limpopo (37 schools) still have some way to go, while the rest of the country has reportedly cleared the problem.
Behind the Numbers: Tragedies That Should Never Happen Again
These aren’t just statistics—they’re connected to painful human stories.
In 2014, five-year-old Michael Komape tragically drowned in a pit latrine at his school in Limpopo.
Four years later, another young child, Viwe Jali, suffered the same heartbreaking fate in the Eastern Cape.
Both incidents sparked outrage—but evidently, not enough action.
And in 2021, headlines shocked the nation when a school principal in the Eastern Cape reportedly forced a student into a pit toilet to retrieve his fallen cellphone.
That principal, Lubeko Mgandela, was later banned from teaching for life.
These horrific incidents are reminders that pit toilets aren’t just unhygienic—they’re dangerous, degrading, and deadly.
Who Deserves the Credit—and What’s the Way Forward?
Interestingly, Minister Gwarube isn’t taking the credit for the progress that has been made.
She acknowledged that most of the work was completed under her predecessor, Angie Motshekga, who is now the Minister of Defence.
In an effort to finish the job, the public is now being asked to help.
The Safe Schools App, launched in December 2024, allows citizens to report remaining pit toilets, helping the government spot problem areas faster.
Can the Department Finally Meet Its Promise?
With July 2025 now marked as the new hopeful deadline, the big question is: will the Department of Basic Education finally follow through?
The urgency is clear, and the pressure is mounting. The country is watching closely—not just for progress reports, but for real, lasting change.