HRC: Cape Town’s chemical toilets violate human rights

In light of these and other damning findings, the HRC recommends that the City develop comprehensive new sanitation norms and standards - ones that are based on human rights principles and that take the lived reality of persons receiving the services into account.

The HRC report revealed that the City has, up until now, “unreasonably” used “emergency housing” guidelines to inform the provision of sanitation in informal settlements, as well as a one-size-fits-all approach in servicing the chemical toilets.

It also found that the City does not adequately consult with the communities that they service. As such, the City should take “significant measures” to reinforce community engagement in sanitation tender processes.

The recommendations conclude a year long investigation into the state of sanitation services provided by City contractor Mshengu in informal settlements. In June 2013, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) approached the HRC, alleging that the City had violated the rights to equality, dignity, privacy, basic sanitation and a healthy environment of residents in four informal settlements.

This was the SJC’s conclusion after a week-long social audit of the services in four areas of Khayelitsha, in April 2013. The audit surveyed the condition of 256 chemical toilets and spoke to residents about their experience of the service. Half of the toilets were found to be damaged, inaccessible or in a state of “extreme uncleanliness”. Residents reported that around a third of the toilets had not been emptied in the week prior to the audit.

Axolile Notywala, SJC spokesman, today hailed the HRC report as a “victory in the struggle for dignity and equality by people living in informal settlements throughout South Africa.” He vowed that the SJC would continue to lobby and put pressure on the City, and “all levels of government”, to implement the recommendations. The report also recommends that the newly formed national Ministry of Water and Sanitation provides training and materials to assist municipalities throughout the country to devise better norms and standards. This brings wide reaching national relevance to the report.

The City can appeal the findings within 45 days.

In response to the report, the Mayor’s spokesperson Zara Nicholson said the City only received the HRC’s report yesterday and “we are currently in the process of studying its contents.” She also said, “Our initial impression is that we have serious reservations about many of the findings and we intend to appeal the recommendations contained in the report.”

The HRC made it clear, within the report, that its investigations focused exclusively on human rights issues. The contract management and service delivery aspects of the SJC’s complaint would be dealt with by the Office of the Public Protector.

Meanwhile, the SJC are in the midst of conducting a second week long social audit of sanitation in Khayelitsha this week. This time round, the survey focuses on City provided flush toilets in a different sample area in the township. Today, 80 employees and volunteers are interviewing residents about City janitorial services in the maintenance of flush toilets. The audit will culminate with a public hearing. The hearing is scheduled for 10am on Saturday at Matthew Goniwe Memorial High School in Site B, Khayelitsha.