Pretoria - Progress is being made in eradicating the bucket toilet system in South Africa’s formal and informal areas, says the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The department said its bucket eradication programme is currently prioritised in the North West, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Free State provinces.
At the end of February 2016, the bucket system was eradicated in Britstown, Springbok and Petrusville in the Northern Cape. It was also eradicated in Kanana in North West as well as Fauriesmith in the Free State.
“To date, 2261 structures were completed in Eastern Cape, 124 in North West, 6377 in Northern Cape and 6974 in Free State. The costs of these units are in line with the industry guidelines on infrastructure service delivery unit costs of approximately R9 000 for a single pit, R12 000 for a double pit and R15 000 for water-borne sanitation,” said the department in a statement on Friday.
Expenses related largely to reticulation, material, civil works, geotechnical expenses and project management fees.
The department highlighted the challenges that have an impact on the bucket eradication programme.
“Outstanding challenges remain and include soil conditions, outstanding town planning processes that render certain areas as informal and therefore without the necessary formal services, as well as the absence of supporting infrastructure for sanitation services in certain formal areas,” it said.
In a bid to regulate sanitation, the department has gazetted the review of the sanitation policy and this will see regulated sanitation services on privately owned land, for backyard dwellers, as well as for informal settlements. Emergency sanitation and sanitation for future settlements is also included for review.
In addition the database of suppliers who are registered with the department for the delivery of sanitation works are used for contracting and sub-contracting with community service providers are encouraged.
“In this manner, a large number of small and medium enterprises benefit from the programme,” it said. - SAnews.gov.za
