Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Human rights groups are pushing the South African government to do away with the sub-standard facilities in schools forever.

GA-MASHASHANE, South Africa — At a high school in rural northern South Africa, more than 300 students and their teachers share three toilets, and that woefully lopsided figure isn’t the worst problem.

Siviwe Gwarube, Basic Education Minister, admits that she has failed to meet her 31 March 2025 deadline to eradicate all remaining pit toilets at public schools. Siviwe Gwarube, Basic Education ...