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FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PARLIAMENT'S CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FASTER ACTION ON SCHOOL SANITATION
Issued by Daniela Ellerbeck on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation on 09/06/2026
The FW de Klerk Foundation notes with concern Parliament’s Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries’ criticism about the Department of Basic Education’s communication on school sanitation. The Foundation shares Parliament’s concern that government must present an accurate picture of the challenges that remain. Parliament’s oversight visits to schools in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and North West found that many learners still use unsafe toilets and attend schools without reliable water. No child should face these conditions.
The Foundation has always welcomed progress in replacing pit toilets. At the same time, it has consistently warned that the government cannot celebrate success while many learners still lack safe and reliable sanitation. In 2025, the Foundation commended progress under the Department’s Sanitation Appropriate for Education (“SAFE”) programme, but stressed that every remaining pit toilet still put children’s rights and safety at risk.
“The Foundation has always said that school sanitation is about children, not statistics,” says Daniela Ellerbeck, an attorney and the FW de Klerk Foundation’s Constitutional Rights Programmes Manager. “Every learner has the right to dignity, safety and basic education. Government must give the public an honest picture of the work that still lies ahead.“
The Foundation’s Executive Director, Christo van der Rheede, says, “We welcome every new toilet that gives learners a safer environment. But government must also speak honestly about the schools that still need help. It must fix poor workmanship, improve maintenance and speed up delivery. South Africa cannot afford another tragedy caused by unsafe school toilets.“
The Foundation supports Parliament’s call for greater transparency and faster action. Government should publish clear maintenance plans, report on the remaining backlog and ensure that every school has safe, working sanitation. Learners deserve more than promises. They deserve safe schools that protect their dignity and their future.
FOLLOW-UP: IEC CORRECTS ELECTORAL REGULATIONS AFTER CONCERNS RAISED
The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes the IEC’s correction of Regulation 28F after concerns about an unconsulted amendment to electoral regulations. The correction restores the version published for public comment and affirms the importance of transparency, public participation and accountable electoral governance.
WHY YOUR VOTE IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO YOUR WALLET
The way public money is managed has a direct impact on household finances, particularly when failing services force residents to pay again for alternatives. The FW de Klerk Foundation’s “Your Vote. Your Wallet.” infographic highlights the link between informed voting, accountable government and the everyday cost of service delivery. South Africans are encouraged to look beyond election promises, scrutinise municipal performance and remain engaged after casting their votes.
FW DE KLERK FOUNDATION CALLS FOR TRANSPARENT MUNICIPAL RECOVERY PLANS AMID R400 BILLION WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BACKLOG
South Africa faces an estimated R400 billion backlog to repair and upgrade ageing water infrastructure across 107 water services authorities. The FW de Klerk Foundation calls for transparent, municipality-specific recovery plans with clear deadlines, measurable milestones and accountable authorities. Reliable access to water is a constitutional right, and infrastructure spending must translate into measurable improvements in service delivery.