Problems with Toilet Blocks

From our analysis, we also discovered many problems with the toilet facilities. These problems are listed below.

Drains and Blockages

Specific details about each toilet block are located under the additional details section of the chart below.  Most of the toilet facilities have drains located near or under the taps.  The drains lead to the sewer but are often clogged with trash. Toilet blockages are also common throughout the settlement and mainly stem from misuse of the facilities.  Residents often flush newspaper and nappies down the toilets, preventing water from being flushed.  Many community members expressed that blockages are a frequent occurrence on weekends, as other residents are intoxicated and neglect to regulate the amount of newspaper they are trying to flush.

The institution of toilet paper would be a big improvement to the toilet facilities in Langrug. This implementation would correct the issue of blockages, but there is always the possibility theft of the toilet paper. To remedy this, a caretaker model could be imposed, and this individual could hand out toilet paper as people came to the facility. Another possible option could be a toilet paper dispenser. The design of such would be that a roll of toilet paper would be inserted into a locked toilet paper holding box, from which the roll could only be removed after it was empty.

Maintenance

Toilets are usually serviced and fixed within the next week by the Pholo-Ka Hola company contracted by the municipality.  Pholo-Ka Hola cleans and services all the public toilets throughout the settlement.  This seven person team is managed by Sefeke, who delegates three workers to maintain the facilities in Nkanini and three to maintain the facilities in Mandela Park.  The seventh worker acts as a repairman and services each facility when there are blockages and problems with the facilities.

Vandalism

Theft of plumbing supplies has also been an ongoing problem with the toilet facilities.  Thieves often steal copper and metal fixtures on the facilities to use or sell.  To counter this, the municipality has begun to replace the copper piping and fittings with plastic parts.  While this has helped to reduce theft, the plastic pipes on the outside of the toilet structure are less durable than metal pipes and fixtures. Children in the settlement regularly play around and climb on toilet facilities.  The children swing and climb on the pipes, causing the plastic pipes to bend and disconnect from the fittings.  When the pipes disconnect water will continuously run from the pipe until the connection is reattached properly.

Safety

At night, residents walking to the toilet facilites are in danger of being robbed, beaten, or raped. Those who do not want to risk walking alone can either attempt to assemble a group or keep a bucket in their home to defecate in.