GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile ,
GOOD National Youth Chairperson
13 December 2024
With the new pit latrine mobile app, Minister Siviwe Gwarube has turned to gimmicks and gadgets instead of addressing the core issue.
In this country, we live with the reality that 11,000 schools lack a flushing toilet while a further 3,398 schools still rely on pit latrines.
The solution to this must be to build proper sanitation infrastructure at these schools, not develop Apps to supposedly gather information the Department already has.
The data collection of pit latrines is not the main reason for this crisis not being solved. The blame falls on local corruption, shoddy workmanship, resources/materials being stolen and an underutilization of funds.
All of these factors are infrastructure problems that require urgent on-the-ground intervention not a glossy technological one.
GOOD acknowledges the gesture by Vodacom as well as the positives that can come from an additional spotlight being shined on a crucial issue that our country is facing.
This mobile application or website will allow anyone to report pit latrines as well as their status in their area.
However pit latrines tend to exist in the most rural and impoverished areas of South Africa.
Where citizens have limited access to smartphones and where phone and data reception is unreliable or non-existent.
The Safe Schools App and its entire function is simply an app version of systems that have been set up by the government in 2023.
Last year the DBE established the Education Facility Management System (EFMS) while the School Administration Management System (SAMS) also exists.
Both of these systems remain critically underutilized by provincial education structures.
If we simply utilize the existing systems the department has financially invested in correctly the need for this Vodacom Safe Schools App becomes obsolete.
Minister Gwarube has just added a fresh coat of paint to a broken-down car.
Former ministers promised to have the pit toilet crisis eradicated in this country by the 31st of March 2023.
After this failure, the goalposts were shifted to 2025 for the eradication to be complete.
Our citizens should hold firm in keeping the government accountable for their failures and not be distracted by glossy PR moves.
The currency of promises is collapsing. Our schools and our youth deserve better.
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