The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is currently rolling out a R126-million sanitation upgrade project at five rural schools in the Eastern Cape on behalf of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (DoE).

“Poor sanitation infrastructure is problematic and impacts on the personal hygiene and safety of the children. The South African Human Rights Commission and others recently carried out research into child development and found that a lack of decent infrastructure infringes on the right to education,” says CDC programme manager Thembeka Poswa.

Owing to this, the Eastern Cape DoE is striving to ensure that schools have sufficient toilets and handwashing facilities.

CDC marketing and communications head Dr Ayanda Vilakazi adds that, in addition to its support of the Eastern Cape DoE, as a socio- economic development agency, the CDC strives to effect positive change in communities in South Africa by undertaking infrastructure development programmes on behalf of various government departments.

In addition to the current programme being run by the CDC, Vilakazi indicates that, earlier this year, the CDC delivered completed sanitation infrastructure upliftment programmes at 17 of the 25 schools across the Eastern Cape forming part of the government-led Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Initiative.

In the 2013/14 financial year, the CDC delivered 73 projects valued at R638-million on behalf of the DoE through its Eastern Cape School Building Programme. This programme included a range of education institution types – from emergency schools to early childhood centres. The CDC also supports technical workshops and efforts to eradicate mud-structured schools throughout the Eastern Cape.

With the current project, the CDC appointed eleven contractors in February this year to upgrade sanitation and toilets by the second half of the year.