ANGRY Cape Town residents have demanded that the city remove a row of temporary toilets that were blown over by the wind recently, causing an unbearable stench.

The residents of Block 8 informal settlement, next to Philippi's Ntsebenziswano High School, said they were surprised to see the city installing 36 temporary toilets in Ntileni Road.

The toilets appear to have been put there for the community to use while the city installs flush toilets.

Resident Bulelani Wana said: "The city must remove the toilets because criminals hide between them at night when they rob people."

Another resident, Nosimanye Nyabeni, said the city should have finished the flush toilet project already. "Now we have to take a walk when we go to the toilets," Nyabeni said.

ANC councillor Thembonkosi Pupa defended the city, claiming the temporary toilets had only been there for about three days.

Though the city had completed 80 flush toilets and was just finishing off the plumbing, he was not sure when the project would be finished and the temporary structures removed.

City director for water and sanitation Philemon Mashoko said the project would only be finished by December 19.