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Instead of providing residents with dignified housing with proper toilets, municipalities in Gauteng are spending billions of rands on hiring chemical toilets. The money spent on chemical toilets could have been used to improve the living conditions of residents of informal settlements.

According to a reply received from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mzi Khumalo, the following amounts have been spent on chemical toilets over the last five financial years by the following municipalities:

• Ekurhuleni: R2 389 900 745
• City of Joburg: R518 015 044,25
• Mogale City Local Municipality: R253 487 088,32
• City of Tshwane: R191 198 997,13
• Emfuleni Local Municipality: R11 575 785,00

In total, R3 364 177 659,70 has been spent on the provision of chemical toilets over the last five financial years.

The MEC Khumalo is failing to properly advise the municipalities on how to spend their budget wisely. Gauteng residents deserve dignified housing with proper toilets instead of wasting money on chemical toilets.

The DA will be engaging with the MEC on this matter to determine exactly what plans are being put in place to ensure that less money is spent on chemical toilets.

Issued by Solly Msimanga MPL - Leader of the Official Opposition- Gauteng