WHAT was meant to be an improvement of sanitation for residents of Mountain View in Koster, North West, has resulted in humiliation and misery.
In 2009, Kgetleng Rivier local municipality employed a company to install 648 flushing toilets in extensions 6 and 7.
But the company did a shabby job. Only a few toilets were completed. Others have been completed but the flushing system is defective.
Some have not been connected to the water supply system.
Mapaseka Motshaiwa and her family have to live with the humiliation of having their toilet overflowing with excrement whenever they flush it.
"At times I don't use my toilet because it is an embarrassment. This project was incomplete and I believe that the sewerage pipes were not correctly connected", she told Sowetan.
The situation has led to some families continuing to use pit toilets because the new toilets do not flush.
A few who can afford it have used their own funds to connect the toilets.
Lebogang Ntshole's family of eight is one of those using pit toilets. "We are stuck with this pit toilet. We thought our lives were going to change when a new toilet was installed in our yard.
"Instead, it is standing there incomplete. We don't have money to connect the water pipes. Our pit toilet is now full and we need to dig another one."
Ntshole's neighbours Daniel Moilwe and George Mmopane say they also do not have money to connect the water system.
"I have been complaining to government officials and there is no assistance coming," said Mmopane.
Phillip Masango used his money to connect his toilet to the water supply system.
"I was tired of using a pit toilet. My toilet was incomplete. I had to use wires to tighten the roof as it might collapse at any time. I could not continue digging pit toilets in my yard. I bought pipes and connected water from the meter to the toilet," he said.
Department of local government and traditional affairs spokeswoman Dineo Lelokwane said the department would investigate the matter.
"We are going to look into the matter and the outcome thereof will be discussed openly."
More stinking toilet business
WHAT was meant to be an improvement of sanitation for residents of Mountain View in Koster, North West, has resulted in humiliation and misery.
In 2009, Kgetleng Rivier local municipality employed a company to install 648 flushing toilets in extensions 6 and 7.
But the company did a shabby job. Only a few toilets were completed. Others have been completed but the flushing system is defective.
Some have not been connected to the water supply system.
Mapaseka Motshaiwa and her family have to live with the humiliation of having their toilet overflowing with excrement whenever they flush it.
"At times I don't use my toilet because it is an embarrassment. This project was incomplete and I believe that the sewerage pipes were not correctly connected", she told Sowetan.
The situation has led to some families continuing to use pit toilets because the new toilets do not flush.
A few who can afford it have used their own funds to connect the toilets.
Lebogang Ntshole's family of eight is one of those using pit toilets. "We are stuck with this pit toilet. We thought our lives were going to change when a new toilet was installed in our yard.
"Instead, it is standing there incomplete. We don't have money to connect the water pipes. Our pit toilet is now full and we need to dig another one."
Ntshole's neighbours Daniel Moilwe and George Mmopane say they also do not have money to connect the water system.
"I have been complaining to government officials and there is no assistance coming," said Mmopane.
Phillip Masango used his money to connect his toilet to the water supply system.
"I was tired of using a pit toilet. My toilet was incomplete. I had to use wires to tighten the roof as it might collapse at any time. I could not continue digging pit toilets in my yard. I bought pipes and connected water from the meter to the toilet," he said.
Department of local government and traditional affairs spokeswoman Dineo Lelokwane said the department would investigate the matter.
"We are going to look into the matter and the outcome thereof will be discussed openly."
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