Makhaza, a community outside Cape Town, became a symbol of delivery in South Africa.
Photographs of the unenclosed toilets there, of poor black residents relieving themselves in the open, often wrapped in blankets in a pitiful attempt at maintaining a semblance of dignity, provoked widespread outrage last year.
What was delicious about the criticism was that the shameful degradation of black South Africans was taking place in the one province the usually vocal DA had snatched from the ANC, the Western Cape.
The ANC Youth League and civic organisations were quick to rally around the Makhaza community, seeking the censure of the South African Human Rights Commission and the courts.
By the time local government elections rolled around in May, toilets had become the symbolic issue of the poll.
Ultimately, a court instructed the City of Cape Town to enclose the toilets - in spite of the DA insisting that they had been constructed in agreement with the residents of Makhaza.
Many of the residents are grateful for the enclosures they have now, the restoration of their dignity, and their removal from the gaze of both passersby and the media.
But there remain pockets of unhappiness - that the structures are too small and some leak when it rains.
The councillor for Makhaza, Andile Lili, has gone as far as accusing the city of punishing the residents for protesting against the open toilets.
Lumkile Sizila, an activist for the Treatment Action Campaign, complained that city contractors had not connected his toilet to a water supply. He said he had to pay a plumber so he could flush the toilet.
Sizila said his toilet leaked when it rained.
"The City of Cape Town undermined us. They didn't monitor the contractors' work," he said.
"Even the quality of the structure is questionable. It is very low and it fills up with sand when it is windy."
Another resident, Nomzekelo Tlatsi, said: "I'm not satisfied with these toilets. They are small. Our feet stick out when we use them. You can't even close the door if you're tall. It's even worse when it rains."
Resident Thobile Mamba said the contractors had undertaken to build a special toilet to cater for his disability, but never did.
"I'm grateful to have a toilet, but it's no good for someone with a disability. I have a problem using it. I have a back problem. I had a stroke and my one leg does not work properly," said Mamba.
"I have to get someone to help me because [the contractors] did not make the path they promised to make from my house to the toilet.
"The toilet also leaks, but because they said the toilets were temporary I'm hoping to get a proper one soon," Mamba said.
Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus ordered the City of Cape Town in April last year to enclose 1316 toilets that formed part of the Silvertown upgrade projects, including the toilets in Makhaza.
City officials consulted the residents and reached an agreement on the model of enclosure for the toilets.
Prototypes ordered by the city received the thumbs-up from residents, who agreed that the new facilities, despite being basic, gave back their dignity.
But Lili, who was at the forefront of the toilets campaign, accused the city of trying to provoke the residents by building substandard toilets.
"The City of Cape Town has punished the people of Makhaza for fighting racial discrimination," he said.
"They have divided the Silvertown development. But since they are bound by the court order they will build us houses this year, and we will wait for that. But if nothing happens, we will challenge them on both the toilets and the housing project," said Lili.
Solly Malatsi, spokesman for Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille, said the city had consulted the community before the toilets were enclosed.
"We showed the community the prototype toilet, which they agreed upon, giving us the green light to proceed with the roll-out.
"Lili is trying to reignite an issue that has been resolved for his own political reasons.
"We will follow up the incident involving the toilet for the disabled man to ensure that he has a toilet that meets his needs," said Malatsi.
