Speaking at the school, the Minister said that “today, as we mark World Toilet Day, we are reminded that dignity, safety and learning begin with something as basic as access to proper sanitation for our learners and our educators. A safe toilet is not a luxury; it is a fundamental right. The Department of Basic Education has now reached 98% of its sanitation infrastructure target; this is indeed not a milestone to celebrate but it reflects our commitment to eliminating unsafe and undignified facilities in our schools. Let me be clear: government will no longer tolerate contractors who stall projects, walk off site or simply don’t deliver. These delays rob our children and educators of a basic right to safe and adequate sanitation at schools. We are strengthening accountability measures, and we will work to ensure that contractors who cannot deliver will be blacklisted. On this World Toilet Day, we recommit ourselves to building safe, dignified spaces for every learner and educator and to protecting the integrity of the work that gets us there”.

This is an important moment for the Department to reflect on the progress made through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative for the provision of safe and dignified sanitation for all schools. In this school, partnering with Waterloo, the DBE has embraced modern, water-efficient and off-grid sanitation technologies. These facilities are sustainable, resilient and respond to our need to build schools that are climate resilient for deep rural parts of the country where many communities do not have access to reliable running water.

World Toilet Day is an annual United Nations observance that underscores the global call for safe sanitation, equitable access, and responsible hygiene. For the DBE, the occasion provides a strategic platform to reflect on advancements made through the SAFE Initiative, acknowledge collaborative infrastructure efforts, and reaffirm its dedication to delivering secure, dignified, learner-focused sanitation in schools.

Minister Gwarube went on a walkabout of the school to observe technologies ranging from low-flush and water-smart systems to off-grid sanitation models, highlighting the Department’s forward-looking commitment to sanitation excellence, the restoration of learner dignity, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and climate-responsive school infrastructure.