Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the completion of the school sanitation programme launched in 2018, marking a milestone in South Africa's efforts to provide safe sanitation for learners.

With all 3,372 schools under the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative now equipped with proper facilities, the achievement brings hope to communities affected by unsafe toilet conditions.However, education rights group Section27 cautioned that this is not the end but a catalyst for further action.

They called for a comprehensive national audit to assess the progress and ensure no learner faces risks like the tragic drowning of five-year-old Michael Komape in 2014.

Pearl Nicodemus of Section27 emphasized the need for accurate data to gauge advancements and highlighted that even one school left out could mean hundreds of learners are still at risk.The audit must prioritize rural schools with limited resources to address ongoing challenges in ensuring safe sanitation for all learners.