30 toilets returned to De Doorns camp

By Khanyisa Tabata
02 June 2010

People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty have welcomed the news that 30 toilets have been returned to the De Doorns camp.

PASSOP spokesperson Everisto Kamera says this comes after an agonizing 48 hours for the displaced, who had to survive for the greater part of two days without adequate sanitation.

Kamera says it is for this reason that PASSOP expresses its sincere gratitude to the Provincial government for having returned the toilets.

“PASSOP also extends its gratitude to the Legal Resource Centre for their involvement and assistance on this issue.

“We trust that the return of the toilets signals the start of a meaningful discussion between the displaced at De Doorns, PASSOP and the Provincial government about the needs of those living at the camp,” said Kamera.

An estimated 3 000 Zimbabweans living in the De Doorns farming area were displaced by xenophobic violence in November 2009.

There were more than 90 toilets in the camp at the beginning of 2010. Since the government announced its plans to close the camp, the toilets were rapidly removed. On Sunday, 31 May, there were only eight dysfunctional toilets.

Yesterday all of the toilets were removed. Today 30 toilets have been returned to the camp.