Wild Coast Sun, a proud member of Sun International, has completed work on a set of new ablution blocks for a primary school in rural Bizana, Eastern Cape.

The Khanyisani Senior Primary School is situated in Redoubt Village, Bizana, Eastern Cape, about an hour’s drive from the Wild Coast Sun.

However, as is typical of some rural schools, it did not have proper sanitation. The 180 learners and seven teachers had to share four old-fashioned pit toilets. With the completion of the project, which started in January 2021, there are two new modern ablution facilities.

One block has four flushable toilets for male students and four flushable toilets for female students. The other block accommodates teachers, with one toilet each for male and female teachers. The toilets are connected to rainwater harvesting tanks and septic tanks, while six basins with taps are also provided.

School Principal Mr Mthetheleli Njomi thanked Wild Coast for its investment. “Toilets are not a privilege, but a right, and we are grateful to Wild Coast Sun for making it possible for our learners to use facilities with respect and dignity.”

A 2016 report into school sanitation by the Water Research Commission found that only 6,783 of South Africa’s 23,589 education sites had only the most basic of pit latrines, which are not considered an adequate form of sanitation. “And even where new toilets are provided, they may deteriorate to an unsafe and disgusting state in a matter of weeks or months if not managed effectively.”

The ablution facilities have been constructed next to the fence line. Water is fed to the ablution block via the raised Jojo tank so that the toilets can flush as there are no rivers or streams near the ablution site. The new ablution block has been constructed by Sibusima Consulting. The toilets for boys are on the left, girls on the right.

There are four toilets for the girls and four toilets for the boys.

“We are pleased that we could provide learners with dignity and help ensure their health and safety,” said Peter Tshidi, Wild Coast Sun’s ‎General Manager. “One child drowned in a pit latrine is one too many, and we hope we’ll be able to help government in wiping out this problem.”

Ends.