Rethinking sanitation improvement for poor households in urban South Africa

In South Africa, flush toilets have historically been associated with white privilege, and dry toilets with racial discrimination. The sector slogan ‘Sanitation is Dignity’ has deep resonance, and in urban areas, anything other than a flush toilet is regarded as inferior and at best an interim option. The emphasis on dignity, rights and aspirations has led to a focus on toilet technologies, rather than on integrated sanitation improvement. But rapid extension of reticulated water and sanitation infrastructure is creating significant bulk infrastructure bottlenecks; the focus on meeting coverage and bucket eradication targets far bolder than the MDGs is compromising sound operation and maintenance, and there is widespread evidence of wastewater treatment failures which have severe consequences for human health and the natural resource base. In a context of growing water scarcity, safe-guarding water quality is critical to ensure it remains fit for use.