By: Gillian Pillay and Vuyelwa Nkumanda
Nestled in the remote, lush hills of the Khalavha village in Fondwe, Venda, lies Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School, located in a region synonymous with water scarcity.
Jack Lavhengwa is a Quintile 3, no fee-paying secondary school which accommodates fewer than 250 learners between grades 8 and 12. No fee schools are allocated a higher amount of government funding per learner as compared to fee charging schools because they are often in poor, rural areas.
The Limpopo Province is plagued by unsafe school sanitation which is yet to be fully addressed. For decades, learners have had to relieve themselves in inhumane conditions – in too many instances it has resulted in fatalities.
In 2021, Jack Lavhengwa only had 12 basic pit latrines and no appropriate toilets which resulted in it being categorised as a Priority 1 school by the Limpopo Department of Education (LDoE). A Priority 1 school is identified as having the most urgent needs, and is categorised that way if:
- There is no existing appropriate sanitation.
- There are appropriate toilets but not enough to meet the required learner-toilet ratio.
- There are inappropriate or unsafe toilets that need to be demolished.
But where did it all start?
As a result of SECTION27’s litigation against the LDoE and DBE, following the tragic 2014 death of six-year-old Michael Komape after he fell into and drowned in a school pit latrine, a structural order was issued against the LDoE and the DBE to provide plans, with timelines, on how they intend to eradicate pit latrines across primary and high schools in the province. Since 2021, SECTION27 has been rigorously monitoring the LDoE’s progress, including through site visits and the Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor, an online tool created by SECTION27 to record the LDoE’s progress, and which allows the public to monitor the work done by the department and report any discrepancies.
Fast forward to 2025. On a rainy Tuesday morning in February, a team from SECTION27 embarked on a monitoring visit to Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School and were pleasantly surprised to find a different picture from the one depicted in the data on the Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor. Data on the Progress Monitor is based on the information received from the LDoE, which is often incorrect, and the reason for our rigorous monitoring.
In late December 2024, a new era was ushered in for the learners and teachers at the school, after newly built sanitation facilities were handed over. The new facilities not only transformed the landscape of Jack Lavhengwa, but it also boosted morale among teachers and learners. Parents described it as “an answered prayer” which ended a collective angst around their children’s safety.
The newly constructed toilets are a combination of water-borne and Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilets which are a dry, waterless, pollution-free and a cost-effective alternative. The facilities are fitted with ceramic toilet bowls, similar to a flushable toilet system, which are safer and more hygienic for learners. The toilets will also significantly reduce the unhygienic and hazardous elements of the non-ventilated, old pit latrines. In terms of the DBE’s Regulations Relating To Minimum Uniform Norms And Standards For Public School Infrastructure , the new sanitation facilities meet the required learner-toilet ratio.
“Learners love the new toilets.” – SGB Member
Before the construction of the new toilets, hygiene and safety were not the only hazards with which learners had to contend. Teachers vividly recalled how the unbearable stench that emanated from the latrines clung to learners’ school uniforms – and affected their dignity. The new sanitation facilities have not only made the teaching and learning environment more conducive but have also restored the dignity of learners at Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School. Teachers also spoke positively about their engagement with the LDoE from the start of the construction process to the official handover of the new toilets, a process that is often beset by lengthy delays.
“All thanks to the DBE for making it happpen.” – Teacher
For the teachers and learners of the Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School, the new toilets could not have come sooner. But for scores of other learners from schools in the far-flung villages of the Limpopo Province, safe, dignified sanitation remains elusive.
Track the sanitation progress of Limpopo schools by clicking on the link below: Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor
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