As the fight against pit toilets at schools across the country continues, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has launched a safety app.
The Safe Schools app, designed and donated by mobile network operator, Vodacom, allows the public to report pit latrines in schools in South Africa.
Currently over 250 sanitation projects in schools across the country need to be completed, with Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape still using pit toilets as their primary sanitation system.
“This app will allow citizens in communities to log any pit toilet or any unsafe infrastructure in schools that are around their communities,” said DBE Minister Siviwe Gwarube.
When Gwarube started her tenure, she said that eradicating all pit latrines in schools by the end of the financial year in March 2025 is a key goal for the 7th administration.
“This platform enables us to take a community driven approach to eradicating pit latrines and restoring the dignity of learners and teachers,” added Gwarube.
The Minister said in order for communities, parents or even teachers to access the app, they should go on to www.safeschools.gov.za
“This information will be directly fed back to the DBE, so we are able to see in real time where the issues are and where pit toilets are,” said Gwarube.
Gwarube added that this is extremely important because pit toilets and the eradication of them is not just a safety issue, it is about dignity.
“We want to make sure that our learners and educators go to schools where there is proper sanitation, so this allows us a dashboard that provides live information so we know which areas to target,” said Gwarube.