Community members from New Payne, in Mthatha, received 500 toilets from the OR Tambo District Municipality, last week.
Member for the mayoral committee for infrastructure, water and sanitation, Mtuwoxolo Ngudle, said that they had handed over toilets to 500 households in Ward 30, under the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality.
He said that this project had taken only six months because they were trying to fast-track the backlog they have when it comes to sanitation services in the KSD.
“Our target was to create job opportunities and also to provide the necessary sanitary services but also to create opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs),” said Ngundle.
He added that the SMMEs benefited and around 64 people were directly employed in this project.
“It is a very good co-incidence that it has been completed while we are commemorating and celebrating the life of the political icon, Oliver Reginald Tambo.”
One of the community members, Mzwandile Mabhongo, from New Payne said that he was happy with such a project, even though he was not a beneficiary.
“I know that there is still room for improvement in other services but, on this one, they played a major role. It is nice to see the municipality taking services to the people,” said Mabhongo.
One of the beneficiaries, Nolusindiso Nonyano (52), said that she was happy because, despite living with disability, it will be easy for her to use a toilet now.
“It was not easy before; now I will be able to use this one,” said Nonyano.
