Public toilets a disgrace in our tourist town

KAROO NEWS - Graaff-Reinet is known as the Gem of the Karoo and considered a popular tourist destination in South Africa due to its well-preserved historical architecture, rich cultural heritage and picturesque surrounds. It is also the hub of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, home to local and regional offices of several different government departments and various businesses offering services that are not available in the smaller surrounding towns. It is therefore safe to say that Graaff-Reinet attracts many visitors, and one would expect the public ablution facilities to be pristine.

However, the condition of the only public toilets in town is disgraceful.

During Graaff-Reinet Advertiser's recent visit to the ablutions next to the offices of the traffic department in Somerset Street, the entire block was found to be filthy and foul-smelling with dirty water covering the floors and soiled toilets. There is no running water, making it impossible to flush or wash your hands. There are some buckets in the ablution block, presumably for carrying water for flushing purposes, but due to the condition of the toilets, people are using these buckets to relieve themselves in.

Safety is also a concern as neither the outside door nor the inside doors can close properly.

To make matters worse, a vagrant who admitted to sleeping in the toilet facility claimed to be in control thereof and charged R2 per person for use of the toilets.

The municipality has a responsibility to ensure that sanitary and safe toilet facilities are available to residents and visitors by providing adequate sanitation infrastructure, implementing hygiene protocols, and involving community stakeholders to ensure that public facilities meet acceptable standards.

According to Ward 2 Councillor Ricardo Smith, the public toilets were recently renovated and the last response from the municipality was that they were busy with a daily operational plan.

Graaff-Reinet Advertiser attempted to contact the Acting Director of Community Services, Melvis Pietersen, as well as the manager of Community Services, Nicky Barnard, to enquire into the matter, but neither could be reached. An enquiry was also sent to the municipality's media liaison officer, Vuyisa Jantjies, but at the time of going to print no response had been received.

Health hazards

Unsanitary toilets present serious health hazards by harboring bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that cause diseases like gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, and skin infections. In communities, deteriorating public health standards can result when people opt to avoid filthy restroom facilities, resorting instead to outdoor settings. This shift is especially problematic in densely populated areas with heavy public restroom usage. Inadequate flushing exacerbates these issues, causing foul odors and facilitating disease transmission among users. Neglected toilets necessitate frequent cleaning and maintenance to prevent hygiene crises, including drain and pipe blockages that demand costly repairs. Untreated waste can pollute water sources and soil, compounding health risks and environmental degradation.

The entire ablution block is filthy with dirty water covering the whole floor.