RESIDENTS living at the Village Heights Informal Settlement were overjoyed when plans for 190 new flush toilets in their community were unveiled last week.

People’s Post last reported on the Village Heights residents’ plight for new toilets, (“Hopes flushed away”, 19 July 2011), when 70 brand new mobile units were thrown out by the community, who demanded flush toilets.

During last week, contractors moved into Village Heights to install sewerage pipes and deliver the shells for brand new flush toilets, costing the City of Cape Town around R1,5 million.

This brought to an end a seven-year struggle to have flush toilets installed.

Jessica Mtambo, resident and assistant chairperson for the Village Heights Informal Settlement Committee, started crying when the first unit was delivered to the community.

“This means so much to us, because we won’t have to find spots to dig or use buckets when we need a toilet, but will now have the luxury of using a clean flush toilet,” Mtambo smiled.

Another resident, Joanna Raaman, could not believe her eyes when spotting the new units. She said: “We have been battling for years and now it’s all happening. For us, it means so much and even better is that fewer families would have to share, making it cleaner.”

The national policy states five families are required to use one unit within the settlement. However, two families would be required to utilise one unit. All residents will be equipped with a lock and key.

People’s Post visited the settlement last week and saw workers installing the last few metres of sewerage piping.

Ward councillor Shaun August was delighted with the new flush toilets, saying: “It has been a struggle for a number of years, so I would like to thank the community for their patience.”

He added that for a number of years, Village Heights faced various kinds of illnesses, especially amongst children, due to the lack of basic sanitation.

“I appeal to the community to look after these toilets by keeping them clean and not to flush nappies and other items which will clog the system,” he said.

Colleen Arendse of CA Holdings, the contractor assigned to install the flush toilets, said work should be completed by 20 March.

“There are several challenges within these communities, but we are here to provide efficient services, because of people’s lack of amenities,” says Arendse.

She added that around 50 jobs were created when the project was introduced.

Delene Roman, chairperson for the committee, was overjoyed.

“There are people who fought with us over the years, but sadly are not present after passing on.

“Words cannot explain how I feel, because we have waited so long and it is finally happening,” Roman said.

August confirmed that Military Heights Informal Settlement, located close to Village Heights, is next on the radar, with 90 new flush toilets on the cards.