01 Jul 2019

Lobatse town councillors have called for a solution to the high number of full pit latrine toilets that pose serious environmental health challenges in the town.

Speaking during the full council meeting last week, a number of councillors stated that many homesteads in densely populated low income areas of Lobatse had filled up pit latrines that have not been emptied for a long time.

Maokaneng cllr Ms Tiny Dinoko said the problem was partly caused by transferring the service of affluent removal from council to the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC). Ms Dinoko said the service went smoothly when it was still the responsibility of council.

“I don’t know whether WUC are failing or it is because of the high charges for emptying the toilets,” she said.   

Tsopeng North cllr Mr Gofaone Kedise said the stench from filled up pit latrines was a serious environmental issue in Lobatse. He said the affluent removal dilemma was the negative effects of the water sector reforms by government. 

“The council was doing well with the service of emptying pit latrines,” said Mr Kedise. 

Peleng Central cllr Mr Mokganedi Monabana said the issue of poor sanitation due to full pit latrines was very rampant in the Peleng location. The cllr said part of the blame for the deplorable situation should be attached to some homesteads owners, who leave their houses with tenants without anyone holding the responsibility of emptying the toilet when it got full. 

Mr Monabana urged council to take strict measures against such house owners through fines in order to force them to take proper care of their pit latrines.

In the address to council on behalf of the mayor, the deputy mayor of Lobatse Town Council, Mr Francis Mokwena said the status of sanitation, mostly in low income areas in Lobatse, was in deplorable mainly due to overflowing pit latrines and septic tanks.

Mr Mokwena said there were over 200 pit latrines and 14 septic tanks that were overflowing and posing serious health hazard by attracting pests such as flies, rats, mosquitoes, cockroaches and snakes. He said the mostly affected areas were Peleng, Newlook/Maipei, Delta and Woodhall.

“These areas are characterised by stench emanating from sanitary inconveniences. 

Currently, we are experiencing problems of absentee landlords, who are not willing to pay WUC fees for affluent removal, hence this poses a health hazard to the community,” said the deputy mayor.

On another issue, councillors called for strict punishment to be imposed on men who impregnate school children. This was after Mr Mokwena informed council that seven learners in the Lobatse education sub-region dropped out of school between January and March due to pregnancies. ends