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DA Files Complaint with SAHRC Over Ekurhuleni’s Unpaid Portable Toilet Services
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) regarding the non-payment for portable toilets in Ekurhuleni, an issue that has led to widespread frustration and sanitation challenges.
In a statement, the DA’s Refiloe Nt’Sekhe revealed that 45,000 portable toilets were supplied to the Ekurhuleni Department of Water and Sanitation, yet many of these units have remained unpaid for over 200 days. This delay has resulted in a lack of maintenance, leaving toilets in some areas unserviced for up to three months.
“As a result, residents in some areas have reported that their toilets have not been serviced for up to three months. Some residents have even informed the DA that they are seeing worms surfacing in their toilets due to the lack of faeces removal,” Nt’Sekhe said.
The situation has caused frustration among suppliers, who are now considering withdrawing their services from Ekurhuleni due to unpaid bills, which they claim are negatively impacting their businesses. The DA argues that this situation represents a clear violation of human rights, as residents have become outraged and feel neglected due to the inadequate sanitation facilities.
Nt’Sekhe emphasized the seriousness of the issue, noting that some residents are still recovering from the cholera pandemic. “The DA has therefore reached out to the SAHRC to investigate this infringement and hold the government accountable. The people of Ekurhuleni demand answers and urgent solutions to their plight,” she said.
The DA also appealed to the SAHRC to investigate why the government has taken so long to formalize services in the informal settlements of Ekurhuleni.
Worms in toilets? 45,000 unserviced portable toilets in Ekurhuleni!
Suppliers unpaid for 210+ days
Health disaster waiting to happen!
The DA has reported this HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION to SAHRC! #DA_GPL #Ekurhuleni @Refiloe Ntšekhe MPL DARead: https://t.co/sGont5emg0 pic.twitter.com/4twZUiPOEm
— Democratic Alliance Gauteng Legislature (@DA_GPL) February 11, 2025
According to The Citzen, the DA’s Solly Msimanga revealed that the servicing of toilets in Ekurhuleni came to a halt in December of the previous year, leading to protests in areas like Windmill and Lindelani. Other areas affected include Thokoza, Daveyton, Tembisa, Germiston, and Boksburg.
“The DA discovered that some residents were emptying their toilets by digging holes in their backyards. They would use five-litre buckets to collect waste, which was then transferred into a 20-litre container and taken to the hole they had dug,” the party explained in their complaint to the SAHRC.
Fleets of trucks are necessary to regularly dispose of waste and clean the units, yet the DA claims that payments for these services have stalled despite the municipality’s financial capacity. Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini declined to comment on the letter sent to the SAHRC but stated that the municipality would respond once it receives the notice.
Msimanga emphasized that the informal settlements in the area have existed for nearly two decades, and the only long-term solution is to establish proper infrastructure. He also noted that delayed payments were straining services, which is likely to escalate tensions in the affected communities.
The DA in Gauteng has vowed to ensure that residents are provided with the dignity they deserve and will continue to monitor the investigation to drive the necessary changes in Ekurhuleni’s informal settlements.
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