July 26, 2007
By Emily Visser
COMPREHENSIVE plans to upgrade and refurbish Johannesburg's public toilets have been suggested by its facilities management and maintenance directorate, Johannesburg City Parks and Metro Trading Company, following a city-wide study earlier in the year.
The directorate, in consultation with others, undertook an investigation to review the status of Joburg's public conveniences. The study also looked at how facilities were managed. According to the report, public conveniences in the city varied significantly in terms of standards, with some rated excellent and others very poor.
It found that in many instances cleaning and maintenance was undertaken without sufficient funding and manpower. The report suggested that "a comprehensive and sustainable approach to the management of ablutions in the city" be developed.
It focused specifically on the 99 parks and cemetery facilities falling under City Parks and the 14 taxi rank facilities falling under Metro Trading Company. Another 98 free-standing facilities, which fall under the corporate and shared services department and which had been upgraded, were also investigated.
The facilities management and maintenance director, Bhalchand Gowrie Sunker, says the external appearances of some of these facilities will receive attention in this and future financial years.
The facilities in question are all used on a daily basis and, therefore, require constant maintenance. "Critical areas are the 38 public convenience facilities found in the inner city, Hillbrow and Braamfontein specifically."
Upgrades
It was recommended that all facilities at taxi ranks and parks be upgraded over a three-year period, starting in the 2007-08 financial year, with the most critical areas receiving attention first.
The investigation found that toilets at conservation areas and at cemeteries were generally in a fair condition. There are 23 facilities in cemeteries and four free-standing facilities in conservation areas. Of more concern were the 72 free-standing facilities in parks, which had variable ratings from excellent to poor.
Soon all the city's toilets will be as good a condition as the Newtown facilities
The report found that City Parks operated without a specific budget allocated to repairs and maintenance of public conveniences. Certain facilities in parks were cleaned by gardeners, who took on this task in addition to their other duties. The report suggested that funding for professional cleaning of facilities should be accommodated in future budgets.
With this in mind, City Parks received R2-million in the 2007-08 budget to upgrade and maintain public conveniences, Sunker says.
Metro Trading Company has 14 public convenience facilities at formal taxi ranks around the city - at Kazerne, Metro Mall, Faraday, Jeppe, Mai Mai, Yeoville, Hillbrow, Rosebank, Midrand, Bara Phase 2, Kliptown, Park Central, Roodepoort and Ekwezi.
The report found that most of these were poorly maintained and managed by officials appointed by taxi associations. Cleaning was done in a disorganised manner with a minimum of cleaning materials and equipment used. The report suggested that Metro Trading Company resume full control of all facilities.
All facilities will have to be upgraded and refurbished, starting with those in the inner city, Sunker explains.
Challenges
Theft and vandalism are among the biggest challenges to the upkeep of facilities. Although there is no foolproof solution, Sunker says the City is doing everything in its power to keep vandalism and theft to the minimum.
Basins and taps were the items most often stolen, and Metro Trading Company spent about R200 000 a year on replacing vandalised toilet fittings, the report found.
"We are doing everything to conceal our plumbing and create service areas which are not easily accessible." Barriers and burglar proofing are also installed but this is not always sufficient to keep vandals and thieves out. Solid granite tops are used in some places to stop thieves from taking basins.
Other options
The high cost of maintenance and repairs to public amenities meant that alternative funding options would also be explored. Annual repairs and maintenance of refurbished facilities at parks and taxi ranks amounted to R1,3-million; existing facilities would cost R2,6-million.
Salaries for cleaners and supervisors would come to R5-million a year for these same facilities.
Among suggestions made in the report to carry the cost, were joint refurbishing ventures undertaken by the City in partnership with private concerns. Another suggestion was for private companies to adopt public conveniences, using the facility for advertising.
Engaging communities and community-based organisations in the maintenance of facilities would also be considered. The report also looked at using participants in the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).
"The EPWP hires labour from outside [the City's employ]. They receive basic training in cleaning services and are then employed by the City in a two-year learnership programme."
The department of corporate and shared services would investigate alternative delivery options further and report back to the mayoral committee within six months.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
