Gcina Senior Primary School Faces Toilet Crisis: A Call For Action

Holifil

01 Apr, 2025

At Gcina Senior Primary School, 27 students are left without proper restroom facilities and are forced to use an open field nearby.
Previously, the school relied on pit toilets constructed by parents, but these have now deteriorated and are no longer usable.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has pledged to eliminate pit toilets in all state schools, but the problem persists in some areas.

Pupils at Gcina Senior Primary in the Eastern Cape resort to using an open field for their basic needs because their school lacks proper toilet facilities. Image: @GroundUp_News. Source: Twitter

EASTERN CAPE—Education is one of the most powerful tools we have as a society, yet for far too many children, it remains out of reach. In some cases, like here in the Eastern Cape, the barriers to a quality education aren’t just about access but also about basic human dignity. Imagine being a child who has to walk miles to get to school, only to find that once you're there, you don’t even have a safe place to go when nature calls.

For the 27 students at Gcina Senior Primary School in KwaGcina, Cofimvaba, attending school comes with its own set of challenges. These kids, along with their parents, are hoping that their story will be heard and that change will come soon. According to reports from GroundUp, who spoke directly with the parents of these students, the school currently lacks any proper toilet facilities. Instead, the children are left to use an open field nearby, which is not only undignified but also unsafe.

The school itself is a small but critical institution, serving students from grades R through six. But with only one teacher to manage all the classes, the challenges facing Gcina Senior Primary are immense. It's not just about the lack of restrooms; it's about the broader conditions under which these children are expected to learn and grow.

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A History of Struggle: The School's Journey

The school’s governing body chairperson, Nowelcome Mgqebisa, shared the school's history with us. Built in the 1980s by villagers using mud and whatever resources they could gather, the school was a testament to the community’s commitment to education. Each household contributed what they could—windows, roofing materials, anything to help build a space where their children could learn.

Back then, teachers and students used pit toilets that were constructed by the parents themselves. But over time, these facilities deteriorated and eventually had to be dismantled due to safety concerns. Fast forward to today, and the Department of Education in the province has stepped in to provide prefab buildings. While this has helped improve the physical structure of the school, the issue of proper sanitation remains unresolved.

Minister Gwarube's Commitment to Ending Pit Toilets

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has made it clear that unsafe sanitation facilities in schools are unacceptable. She recently announced that her department is on track to eliminate pit toilets in all state schools by March 2025. This is a bold and necessary step, and it shows that the government is taking the issue seriously.

Since taking office, Minister Gwarube has prioritized addressing the unsafe conditions that so many students face every day. Her commitment to improving sanitation facilities is not just about infrastructure; it’s about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe and dignified environment.

We’ve reached out to Minister Gwarube’s office and the Eastern Cape Department of Education to seek updates on the situation at Gcina Senior Primary. We’re hopeful that this case will be addressed swiftly and that the students will soon have access to the facilities they deserve.

A Tragic Reminder: The Cost of Neglect

Briefly News previously covered a heartbreaking story from the Eastern Cape, where a three-year-old child tragically died after falling into a pit toilet. This incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers that still exist in many schools across the country.

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The opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), took the matter up with the South African Human Rights Council, accusing the Basic Education Department of violating basic human rights by failing to address the issue of pit toilets in schools. The DA argued that this neglect has far-reaching consequences, not just for the safety of students but also for their overall well-being and ability to focus on their studies.

As we continue to push for change, it’s important to remember that every child deserves the opportunity to learn without fear or discomfort. The story of Gcina Senior Primary is just one example of the challenges that still exist, but it’s also an opportunity for us to come together and demand better for our children.