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'Bucketgate' being flushed out
22/11/2006 20:52 - (SA)
Zinkie Sithole
Nelspruit - Mpumalanga finally has started investigating the "bucket-gate" scandal - after the government spent R189m eradicating the hated bucket-toilet system.
The investigation comes nearly a month after reports that up to 100 people are sharing overflowing portable toilets.
The government had claimed to have replaced all bucket toilets in townships with flush ones.
But, in Extension 18 of Embalenhle township outside Secunda, sewerage and water pipes weren't properly connected and some of the toilets were only half-built, so residents were asked to share portable toilets.
The government had stopped sending out old municipal "night soil" trucks that used to collect faeces-filled buckets from residents' homes every morning.
'Constantly overflowing'
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) co-ordinator Ntombikayise Mbokane said: "Residents are being forced to use temporary portable toilets, with the government supplying only one to a street.
"This means that up to 100 people are forced to use a single toilet.
"The toilets simply can't cope, and are constantly overflowing. "In addition to the hygiene concerns, people are scared to use the toilets at night. One old man was robbed."
The government initially denied there was a problem, and accused both opposition parties and journalists of making up complaints.
African National Congress Women's League deputy secretary Gelane Sindane told the legislature last week that black journalists who covered the story were a disgrace to their race and had brought shame on their family names.
She insisted that no self-respecting black journalist could, or should, cover the views of white-led opposition parties.
The ANC has since distanced itself from Sindane's statements, describing them as "unfortunate".
ANC provincial chief whip Jackson Mthembu said: "The race-based attack on the media's independence is contrary to ANC policy.
"Her comments were unfortunate, and I will be meeting with her to discuss the issue."
Local government and housing MEC Jabu Mahlangu has since ordered an investigation into "bucket-gate".
"This is an emergency probe and we expect an urgent response so the public can be informed in good time," said department of housing spokesperson Simphiwe Kunene on Wednesday.
DA want an apology
He said a deadline hadn't been set for the investigation to be completed.
The Democratic Alliance, who first exposed the situation in Embalenhle in a detailed report, have applauded Mahlangu for launching the investigation, but want him to apologise after publicly branding the DA as 'liars'.
Meanwhile, criminal charges are being brought against local scrap dealers, who were found with new brass and copper fixtures that had been stolen from the project.
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