No child’s life should be lost in a pit toilet as a result of the failures of the Department of Basic Education.
That is what Amnesty International had to say following the death of yet another child in a pit toilet. Last week, 3-year-old Unecebo Mboteni died after reportedly drowning in a pit latrine at a crèche in East London. The incident happened at the Little Champions Day Care Centre in Mdantsane.
A pit toilet e creche, e Mdantsane in 2024?
— Zintle (@Zintle_N) April 22, 2024
READ MORE: Body of 4-year-old Eastern Cape girl found in school pit toilet
The toddler was found in the toilet on Thursday 18 April 2024 by a staffer at the centre. This was after they noticed he was not with the other children. He died at hospital the following day.
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International’s spokesperson Genevieve Quintal  says the DBE keeps missing its deadline of eradicating pit latrines:
“It is horrendous and unacceptable that another child has died in a pit latrine because the DBE has once again failed in its target of eradicating these illegal toilets. The Department has to authorize early childhood development centres to operate, and so has a responsibility to ensure that all safety guidelines are adhered to in line with the national norms and standard,” said Quintal.
She added that no child should be falling into a pit latrine in this day and age.
“How many more children must die before the Department of Basic Education takes this seriously? Last year, the department’s education facilities management report showed 3 932 schools still use pit latrines, violating the rights to health, safety, dignity and life. No child’s life should be lost because of the failures and shortfalls of the department,” said Quintal.
