Since its establishment six and a half decades ago, Diepkloof Hostel has struggled with proper sanitation. To this day, they are still caught in the dehumanising struggle of using the bucket system. The induna at the hostel told ZiMoja that there are over 5 000 dwellers and they are forced to use close to 70 unhygienic toilets.

WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS?

Nonhlanhla Mbambo, who is the secretary to the induna, told ZiMoja that she has been living at the hostel for over a decade, but the living conditions have minimally improved. She complained about the lack of sanitation which mostly affects young girls and women who get infections from using the bucket toilets. "What human rights are we celebrating when we live like this? The situation is very bad here for women we always get infections from using these toilets. We appreciate that the mayor added the toilets, but they are not doing any justice for us." She added that 20 people use the same toilet which gets full within two days. She said there was a time that the toilets would be left undrained for months which was a huge health hazard. "They come and drain the toilets twice a week but I feel like it's not enough because they get full quickly, "she said.

FEAR OF THE NIGHT

Mbambo said using the toilets also puts a risk on their lives due to crime. "It's so frustrating having to go outside and use the toilet at night especially if one has to do a number 2. It's better if you just need to pee because you can just use a bucket and empty it the morning but with the other situation, you'll be forced to go outside which is risky. Crime is everywhere and people use any opportunity they get, it's better if you have someone to accompany you there," she said.

Mbambo said she has been to other hostels and claims theirs is the only one that's still using the bucket system and she wonders why they are being subjected to this. Diepkloof Hostel residents held a protest on Monday demanding that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi keeps his promise of building new structures for them since theirs are dilapidated and in a deplorable state. The MEC for Human Settlements Lebogang Maile visited the hostel on Tuesday and promised to return today with answers for the residents, who claimed they were displeased by his visit.