Noting a recent report by Statistics South Africa, which recorded an increase in the number of bucket toilets in the Eastern Cape, provincial government said this week that it was studying the contents of the report to ascertain where this increase had occurred and how the system could be eradicated.

The Eastern Cape government said it was likely that the increase in the use of bucket toilets in the province had occurred in the informal areas, as the formal areas had already been counted and budgeted for.

“The department reassures the people of the Eastern Cape, particularly those still using the bucket toilet system, that the construction [of permanent toilets] is taking place in Makana, Paterson, Baviaans, Steynsburg, Indwe, Jansenville, Somerset and Ndlambe under the auspices of the Bucket Eradication Programme,” it stated.

The National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Strategy had been commissioned to provide management services for this programme in the Eastern Cape, with R94.06-million allocated to nine projects across the province.

Currently, the number of buckets in the province’s formal areas stood at 2 827.

Bucket eradication was focused on three district municipalities: Cacadu, Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani, with a total of eight municipalities to benefit from the programme.

“This programme will see the construction of water-borne sewerage systems and the connection of households to the flush system.

“In addition, latrines in the townships of Grahamstown and Port Alfred would be eradicated,” the province noted.