Africa-Press – South-Africa. Some residents of Evaton in Gauteng have accepted the unhygienic conditions they live in daily; some families are forced to share pit toilets.
Their toilets are covered with pieces of corrugated iron sheets, and one does not have a roof.
Three families share a toilet which does not have a roof. The toilets pose a danger to both children and adults.
Matshidiso Lephuting and her family share a single toilet with two other families.
Lephuting said the toilet posed a threat to their health.
“We dug this one in November last year after the old one became full. We need proper toilets.
“It is risky to use our toilet. Water goes in when it rains, and it quickly fills up. Our minor children are not allowed to use these toilets.
“They [the children] use buckets to relieve themselves. I also use it at night.
“I am afraid to go out when it’s dark because we also don’t have electricity. I am afraid of criminals. I would rather relieve myself in a bucket than go outside to be killed,” she added.
Her neighbours also said they did not use their toilet at night.
Zeblon Simms occupies a yard, which has a single toilet, with five other families.
Simms said their current toilet had been recently dug after others filled up.
“Our toilets are quickly filled. We don’t have money to build one using bricks.
“When it is hot or after rainy days, the stench coming from this toilet becomes strong.
“We keep our shacks closed, preventing flies from entering. Imagine the heat of a closed shack in summer?” asked Simms.
Residents have lost hope the government would one day attend to their problems.
“Our government is aware of our situation. Whenever there are elections, they flock here.
“They would write down our names and leave us with false promises. We are tired and have accepted that we are on our own,” said Simms.
The DA in Gauteng, accompanied by an SA Human Rights Commission official, visited the families to inspect the conditions they live in.
DA human settlements spokesperson Meryn Cirota said the area should have been developed years ago.
Evaton was part of the Evaton Renewal Project, where funds were allocated years ago to improve it.
“Millions of rand were spent many years ago to improve Evaton. We want to find out where the money went to.
“Residents live in squalor. They share pit toilets. It is a blatant disregard for human dignity.
“It is a shame that so many years into our democracy that nothing is done to uplift our communities.
“It is sad when people say they are used to these conditions. Nothing is done to change their lives. This is just despair. We call on the province to come and see and do something about this.
“This is not a new issue. This issue has been brought up many times both at the provincial and local government levels. It is time something is done.
“Sadly, this is a microcosm of what is happening in the province,” said Cirota, adding many communities in Gauteng lived in similar conditions.
Comment from the Emfuleni Municipality will be added once received.
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