Reasons given for incomplete eradication of 10 000 bucket toilets
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is still working through its bucket toilet backlog, with some areas unlikely to be complete before early 2027.
Eight towns — predominantly in the Free State — have projects underway to eradicate a total of 10 700 bucket toilets.
According to the department, the projects are at various stages of completion but have encountered several problems since work began.
10 000 toilets by 2026
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majondina revealed the status of the projects and the reasons for delays in a recent written response to a parliamentary question.
The projects fall under the Bucket Eradication Programme (BEP), which focuses on informal toilets in the North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State.
Projects in the Setsoto Local Municipality towns of Senekal, Ficksburg and Clocolan are at 83%, 78% and 82%.
The work to remove just over 6000 bucket toilets is set to be complete by March 2026, but DWS states that hard rock found during trench excavations slowed work and led to equipment failures.
DWS's in-house construction unit took over projects in Reitz and Mamafubedu in the Nketoana Local Municipality after the contractor was removed. However, no targeted completion date was disclosed.
Also in Nketoana, the removal of 1 192 toilets in Arlington is 84% complete, with the department expecting the work to be completed by the end of October.
The same deadline is set for a 1279-toilet project in Dealesville where the department is 94% complete.
In Campbell in the Northern Cape, a project to remove 596 bucket toilets sits at 0% completion, as the budget was required to be split over two financial years.
Problems on site
In addition to the reasons given for the Setsoto delays, the department listed seven other reasons for project delays.
In Senekal and Arlington, the expropriation of privately owned land was cited as creating a lengthy delay.
Excessive rain in the first three months of 2025 slowed progress, as did the discovery of high water tables at all projects.
Cash flow challenges were repeatedly reported by contractors, design challenges were encountered mid-construction, and stoppages have occurred due to labour disputes.
Additionally, municipalities have been slow to issue wayleaves and identify servitudes.
'Not properly planned'
Majondina's response stated that the original aims of the project did not align with the reality on the ground, as bulk water services were not present to service the new toilets.
'The programme was not properly planned at its inception and detailed feasibility studies for implementing water-borne sanitation were not done,' stated the minister.
Majondina added that project support was now being provided to contractors through the department's engineering unit.
'The department is actively monitoring the BEP projects through the supervision of a resident engineer stationed permanently on site per project as well as monthly site progress meetings to ensure that any challenges that arise are attended to expeditiously,' she concluded.
NOW READ: SAHRC urges government to accelerate eradication of pit latrines and bucket toilets
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
30-07-2025
- Eyewitness News
Whisky & vodka, a sheep & shoes: MPs beat deadline to declare financial interests to Parliament
CAPE TOWN - Parliamentarians have all made the deadline to declare their financial interests to Parliament and none will run the risk of being sanctioned this year. Perhaps a sign of the times, but far fewer MPs have received gifts as was often the case in the past. Owing to the nature of their jobs, ministers are mostly the ones on the receiving end of gifts of alcohol, artworks, scarves, handbags and blankets. The register is the second since the start of the seventh administration. International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has racked up a considerable list of donations, mostly of whisky and some vodka, while National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has declared an ostrich leather handbag, and Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, a sheep and shoes. Deputy President Paul Mashatile, whose property ownership has in the past come under the spotlight, has declared three residential properties - in Constantia in Cape Town, and Midrand and Kelvin in Johannesburg. Meanwhile, the MK Party's parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, has made no disclosures whatsoever in the public section of the register, claiming neither to own nor rent land or property. Several ActionSA MPs have declared sponsored travel to Taiwan in March, from the local trade office, at a time when government has been under pressure to downgrade Taiwan's embassy status in Pretoria. In a more unusual donation received by an MP, the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Mlondi Mdluli received dog food donations worth more than R170,000. But it appears it was not for personal benefit and that the food was all donated to animal welfare organisations.
The Herald
28-07-2025
- The Herald
Macpherson halts EPWP funds to Free State municipality amid 'political gains'
Public works and infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has suspended expanded public works programme (EPWP) funds to the Matjhabeng municipality in the Free State pending investigations into alleged politically connected individuals receiving inflated salaries through the programme. City Press reported the municipality's EPWP pays inflated salaries to former councillors and sitting political office bearers, with others earning more than R31,000 a month — 10 times more than the average EPWP stipend. The EPWP provides unemployed individuals, especially youth, with temporary employment opportunities while equipping them with skills to be employable. Participants receive a stipend. Macpherson said the programme was not a 'vehicle for patronage'. 'The EPWP is an essential lifeline for many in communities around the country, including in Matjhabeng, and it would be unacceptable if any politician or official is found to have used the programme for personal benefit,' he said.
The Citizen
28-07-2025
- The Citizen
Reasons given for incomplete eradication of 10 000 bucket toilets
The Bucket Eradication Programme was first announced in 2016 and projects to rid eight towns of bucket toilets are still underway. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is still working through its bucket toilet backlog, with some areas unlikely to be complete before early 2027. Eight towns — predominantly in the Free State — have projects underway to eradicate a total of 10 700 bucket toilets. According to the department, the projects are at various stages of completion but have encountered several problems since work began. 10 000 toilets by 2026 Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majondina revealed the status of the projects and the reasons for delays in a recent written response to a parliamentary question. The projects fall under the Bucket Eradication Programme (BEP), which focuses on informal toilets in the North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State. Projects in the Setsoto Local Municipality towns of Senekal, Ficksburg and Clocolan are at 83%, 78% and 82%. The work to remove just over 6000 bucket toilets is set to be complete by March 2026, but DWS states that hard rock found during trench excavations slowed work and led to equipment failures. DWS's in-house construction unit took over projects in Reitz and Mamafubedu in the Nketoana Local Municipality after the contractor was removed. However, no targeted completion date was disclosed. Also in Nketoana, the removal of 1 192 toilets in Arlington is 84% complete, with the department expecting the work to be completed by the end of October. The same deadline is set for a 1279-toilet project in Dealesville where the department is 94% complete. In Campbell in the Northern Cape, a project to remove 596 bucket toilets sits at 0% completion, as the budget was required to be split over two financial years. Problems on site In addition to the reasons given for the Setsoto delays, the department listed seven other reasons for project delays. In Senekal and Arlington, the expropriation of privately owned land was cited as creating a lengthy delay. Excessive rain in the first three months of 2025 slowed progress, as did the discovery of high water tables at all projects. Cash flow challenges were repeatedly reported by contractors, design challenges were encountered mid-construction, and stoppages have occurred due to labour disputes. Additionally, municipalities have been slow to issue wayleaves and identify servitudes. 'Not properly planned' Majondina's response stated that the original aims of the project did not align with the reality on the ground, as bulk water services were not present to service the new toilets. 'The programme was not properly planned at its inception and detailed feasibility studies for implementing water-borne sanitation were not done,' stated the minister. Majondina added that project support was now being provided to contractors through the department's engineering unit. 'The department is actively monitoring the BEP projects through the supervision of a resident engineer stationed permanently on site per project as well as monthly site progress meetings to ensure that any challenges that arise are attended to expeditiously,' she concluded. NOW READ: SAHRC urges government to accelerate eradication of pit latrines and bucket toilets
