The ongoing toilet crisis at La Rochelle Primary School in Johannesburg has left over 1,000 learners without access to safe, hygienic, and dignified sanitation for more than two years. This deeply concerning situation has now completely disrupted teaching and learning at the school, depriving learners of their right to quality education in a conducive learning environment. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC Matome Chiloane urgently resolve this crisis so that teaching and learning can resume at La Rochelle Primary School.
The school’s main restrooms have been out of order for two years, and there has been no indication from GDE on when they will be repaired. As an alternative, the department provided mobile “pit toilets” for use by both learners and educators. Parents have repeatedly raised concerns about the toilets’ lack of hygiene, stating that they often go uncleaned for extended periods. It is alleged that some children have even developed infections as a result.
During a DA oversight inspection at the school, we learned that on 3 September 2025, an official from the MEC’s office assured parents that the department would deliver flushable toilets. To date, not a single unit has been delivered, and learners are losing valuable schooling time due to the department’s failed promises.
The failure to address this longstanding problem, which has led to further deterioration to the point where schooling has ground to a halt, is unacceptable. It reveals how little regard the Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government has for our learners and teachers. The DA has already submitted questions to MEC Chiloane regarding this matter and will be submitting further questions in the coming days, as numerous additional allegations of corruption at this school have come to light.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that every learner has access to safe, clean, and functional sanitation, and that infrastructure repairs are addressed urgently, transparently, and with clear timelines. No child should have to endure such inhumane conditions while trying to learn and improve their prospects of a better future.