CAPE TOWN - The Basic Education Department is racing to eliminate a backlog of pit toilet replacements dating back to 2018.
Minister Siviwe Gwarube set the 31st of March as the target.
While over 3,000 sanitation projects have been delivered under the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative, thousands of children still rely on these unsafe facilities.
READ | Discussion | Promise to eradicate pit toilets by March
Providing an update on school infrastructure projects before the National Council of Provinces, Gwarube acknowledged progress but admitted problems remain.
"To date, the DBE has advised that approximately 93% of all identified pit latrines have been replaced under the SAFE initiative.
"This number is expected to increase in the coming weeks as the DBE works closely with its implementing agents and donors to complete the balance of identified sanitation projects.” she said.
Gwarube also provided an update on broader infrastructure backlogs, including school construction, refurbishment and the provision of electricity.
READ | Crime in SA | Extortionists stop Cape Town toilet cleaning services
She says unreliable planning data and funding shortfalls are some of the reasons for the backlog.
The Department needs at least R129-billion to fix the problems.