Baby Soft tackles 'toilet loss' crisis in Gauteng schools this Mandela Day

News24

15-07-2025

A new audit of 300 Gauteng schools has revealed widespread 'toilet loss' - a term used to describe bathrooms that are unsafe or unusable due to poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and the absence of essentials like soap and toilet paper.
The audit marks the launch of the UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER campaign in Gauteng, an impactful public-private partnership between Baby Soft®, Domestos and the Department of Basic Education. Following a successful 2024 rollout in the Eastern Cape, the next leg of the campaign aims to broaden long-term improvements in school sanitation by resourcing, training and supporting schools in need.
'Our campaign extends beyond just providing cleaning supplies; it's about helping schools take better care of their facilities through training and day-to-day systems that support hygiene and accountability,' says Siyolise Shinga, Baby Soft® Brand Manager. 'That Mandela Day, we're reaffirming our commitment to improving bathroom conditions for learners, one province and school at a time.'
Gauteng's sanitation wake-up call
Conducted in May 2025, the baseline audit assessed 1,717 toilet blocks and more than 4000 cubicles across primary schools in Gauteng. The findings are stark:
Only 6.5% of cubicles met all basic sanitation criteria and could be considered fully functional.
27% of toilets showed visible faeces and urine, while 22% had an unacceptable odour.
Only 15% of toilet blocks had toilet paper available, and 50% had no soap.
69% had no dustbins, a simple yet vital item for hygiene and dignity.
While almost all schools have at least one cleaner, only 32% use any form of cleaning checklist, and fewer still track supplies or maintain a regular cleaning roster.
'These results are a wake-up call,' says Shinga. 'Perhaps most concerning, is that only 50 out of the 300 schools audited had even a single cubicle that passed all sanitation criteria, pointing to widespread challenges rather than isolated failures.'
From awareness to action
The Gauteng rollout of UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER will deliver targeted support to all 300 participating schools through a range of interventions. These include training for both cleaners and school management on sanitation best practices, as well as the distribution of essential supplies such as cleaning kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), toilet paper and bleach.
To support day-to-day maintenance, schools will also receive administrative tools including cleaning rosters, daily checklists and inventory tracking forms. In addition, the campaign will introduce behaviour-change initiatives designed to boost cleaner motivation and establish stronger systems of accountability.
These interventions are based on a tested model. In the Eastern Cape, where the campaign benefited over 100 000 lives in 2024, measurable improvements were recorded. These included a rise in PPE access from 31% to 93%, daily cleaning checklist use from 0.3% to 42%, and toilet paper availability from 61% to 99%. Cleaner motivation also increased, with 79% feeling highly committed to their role by the end of the campaign.
'Already, cleaners in Gauteng are showing a strong foundation for change, with 85% saying they feel motivated, and 64% describing themselves as extremely motivated to take care of school toilets,' says Queen Mgobhozi at Domestos. 'Harnessing this enthusiasm, we will provide the necessary cleaning supplies, training and tools to help schools embed better toilet care into their daily routines.'
A call for lasting change
While the immediate goal is to improve the hygiene and functionality of school toilets, the long-term vision is to elevate the value placed on sanitation in school planning, staffing and budgeting.
'For too long, school sanitation has been treated as an afterthought, yet its impact on education is significant,' says Shinga. 'We want to see cleaners valued and supported. We want school priorities to reflect the importance of hygiene. And we want learners to walk into bathrooms that make them feel safe, respected and cared for.'
While Mandela Day can act as a powerful catalyst here, Shinga stresses that real change takes time. 'Our commitment is more than symbolic; it's a sustained investment in human dignity, health and the right to learn without fear. That's what Mandela stood for, and that's what we're working towards, together,' he concludes.