More than three decades into democracy, thousands of South African children — particularly in rural and no-fee schools — still attend schools without safe and dignified sanitation. Despite repeated promises from government to eradicate pit toilets, many learners continue to use dangerous and illegal facilities that expose them to disease, injury and even death. In parts of the Eastern Cape, organisations like SOS NPO (Save Our Schools) are stepping in where the state has seemingly failed, demolishing unsafe pit toilets and replacing them with sustainable sanitation systems, boreholes and handwashing stations. Their work in schools such as Babheke Primary School in Lusikisiki highlights the daily reality faced by learners who still lack clean water, safe toilets and proper hygiene infrastructure. Tonight we ask: how is it possible that basic sanitation remains a crisis in democratic South Africa — and why are communities and NGOs carrying a burden government promised
years ago to solve?