The City of Cape Town has to replace all the toilets it removed from Makhaza and this time residents will not have to cover up with blankets when they use them.
Yesterday, Cape Town High Court judge Nathan Erasmus granted an interim order forcing the city to re-install 65 toilets and enclose them with corrugated, galvanised-metal sheeting and wooden frames.
Erasmus went to see the toilets in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha last week.
Three Makhaza residents - ANC Youth League regional treasurer Andile Lili, Ntombentsha Beja and Andiswa Ncani - brought an urgent application to the court to compel the city to rebuild and enclose the toilets.
The city built more than 1300 toilets and claimed that residents had undertaken to enclose them.
Though most of the toilets were enclosed, several remained open to the elements because residents could not afford to enclose them.
In his affidavit to the court, Lili claimed the situation caused friction among residents.
"Those who could not afford [walls] would approach those who were able to enclose the toilets for use of their toilets. This resulted in community members fighting over use of toilet facilities," he said.
"Those who could not afford to enclose the toilets used blankets to cover themselves when they were relieving themselves. The sight of old women relieving themselves in public was simply indecent," he said.
The city tried to erect temporary structures around the toilets but they were destroyed by residents who wanted concrete walls.
In a statement issued yesterday, Cape Town welcomed the ruling: "The city has repeatedly made the offer to the community that it is willing to re-install and enclose the 65 toilets removed from the area.
"Furthermore, the city has extended its offer of assistance to the entire community who received individual toilets and enclosed them themselves, and this will be communicated shortly to the residents."
The case is to continue next year.
- Timeslive
Yesterday, Cape Town High Court judge Nathan Erasmus granted an interim order forcing the city to re-install 65 toilets and enclose them with corrugated, galvanised-metal sheeting and wooden frames.
Erasmus went to see the toilets in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha last week.
Three Makhaza residents - ANC Youth League regional treasurer Andile Lili, Ntombentsha Beja and Andiswa Ncani - brought an urgent application to the court to compel the city to rebuild and enclose the toilets.
The city built more than 1300 toilets and claimed that residents had undertaken to enclose them.
Though most of the toilets were enclosed, several remained open to the elements because residents could not afford to enclose them.
In his affidavit to the court, Lili claimed the situation caused friction among residents.
"Those who could not afford [walls] would approach those who were able to enclose the toilets for use of their toilets. This resulted in community members fighting over use of toilet facilities," he said.
"Those who could not afford to enclose the toilets used blankets to cover themselves when they were relieving themselves. The sight of old women relieving themselves in public was simply indecent," he said.
The city tried to erect temporary structures around the toilets but they were destroyed by residents who wanted concrete walls.
In a statement issued yesterday, Cape Town welcomed the ruling: "The city has repeatedly made the offer to the community that it is willing to re-install and enclose the 65 toilets removed from the area.
"Furthermore, the city has extended its offer of assistance to the entire community who received individual toilets and enclosed them themselves, and this will be communicated shortly to the residents."
The case is to continue next year.
- Timeslive
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