What was supposed to restore dignity in parts of Emfuleni has instead sparked outrage, with a sanitation project costing more than R24 million delivering communal facilities that residents describe as deplorable and already falling apart. The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements funded the project, which involved the construction of 30 communal ablution blocks in Evaton, in collaboration with the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Each facility is divided into separate units for men and women, each built with basic shack-like materials and equipped with three toilets, a basin, and three showers powered by a solar geyser.
Despite this, residents said the facilities fail to provide even the most basic level of privacy and dignity, with some refusing to use them altogether. While a few units are operational, others remain incomplete, locked, or have never been used. In one instance, a facility has reportedly remained locked since 2024.
Some structures flood when it rains, rendering them unusable and leaving communities without access to sanitation. Each unit came at a cost of R815 000, with a total expenditure exceeding R24 million. The project forms part of long-standing government efforts to replace pit toilets and improve sanitation, a commitment dating back to 2015 when communities were promised dignified alternatives.
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During an oversight visit, Kingsol Chabalala, the Democratic Alliance’s Emfuleni mayoral candidate, raised alarm over what he described as a deeply troubling outcome, stating that the condition of the facilities does not justify the cost. “Today’s oversight revealed that the toilets are in a state of disrepair, despite the exorbitant amount spent on them.” Chabalala said the party would escalate the matter to law enforcement, warning that the project raises serious concerns about possible corruption and misuse of public funds.
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