According to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE) programme has been making progress with replacing the pit latrines. The DBE has been working with provincial education departments to ensure that appropriate sanitation facilities are installed at schools.
The SAFE initiative was launched in August 2018, following several incidents where children were injured or killed due to falling into pit latrines. Through the programme, learners have been provided with safe sanitation options.
Initially, 3 898 schools required the installation of safe sanitation facilities however this number decreased to 2 786 schools. Schools were excluded from the programme because they either closed, merged or had appropriate sanitation facilities.
The 2 786 schools have been allocated to implementing agents for planning, design, tender and construction. Some of these schools have already begun the construction process.
Approximately 2 359 schools have had their sanitation facilities installed. The department has stated that the remaining 324 schools will be receiving their sanitation facilities in 2022/23.
During 2021/22, the department identified an additional 622 schools which were in need of proper sanitation facilities. These schools have since been allocated to implementing agents.
With regards to the additional 622 schools, some may have proper sanitation facilities installed by 2022/23. Whereas, the bulk will mostly only receive the facilities in 2023/24.
Unfortunately, all the projects cannot be done at the same time because of the lack of resources and finances. Therefore, a certain number of schools are seen to each year. However, the department aims to replace all pit latrines in the country.
