Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said that the pit toilet backlog in Eastern Cape schools identified in 2018 has been cleared [1].
This development marks a significant shift in school infrastructure safety and hygiene for thousands of students in one of South Africa's most rural provinces. The removal of these facilities is a key goal of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative, which aims to replace dangerous and outdated sanitation systems with modern standards.
Speaking April 4, 2025, during a visit to Dimbaza Primary School in the Buffalo City Metro, Gwarube said the government has made substantial progress in eliminating these facilities [2]. According to official reports, 96% of school pit toilets have been eliminated since 2018 [3].
The scale of the improvement is reflected in the number of institutions affected. The department said that the backlog has been cleared at 3,372 schools [2]. This effort addresses a long-standing crisis where poor sanitation posed health risks and safety hazards to pupils.
Data regarding the initial scope of the problem varies across reports. One source indicates there was a backlog of 1,375 sanitation projects in 2018 [1], while other records focus on the total number of schools where the backlog was eventually cleared [2].
Gwarube said the focus remains on eradicating pit toilets entirely to ensure that all learners have access to dignified and safe sanitation. The SAFE initiative continues to drive the replacement of these structures across the Eastern Cape to meet national education standards [1], [3].
“96% of school pit toilets eliminated since 2018”
The near-total elimination of pit toilets in the Eastern Cape represents a critical step in South Africa's effort to align school infrastructure with basic human rights and safety standards. By transitioning to the SAFE initiative's modern sanitation models, the government is reducing the risk of accidents and disease, which historically hindered educational outcomes in rural districts.
