Mayoral committee member Ruby Mathang testing the taps in the new toilets

RELATED LINKS: Newtown has its own artistic ablution facilities YELLOW and purple pod-like structures in Newtown are the district's new public toilets. Designed to be hardwearing and robust, the facilities are as artistic as Newtown itself. Read more Johannesburg Development Agency THE Johannesburg Development Agency was established in 2001 to stimulate and support area-based economic development initiatives in support of Joburg 2030, Johannesburg's economic development strategy for the next three decades. Read more Newtown hotspots upbeat about developments THE transformation of Newtown, a vibrant cultural and tourism area on the western edge of Joburg's city centre, into a 24-hour shopping, entertainment, business, retail and residential hub promises a gold rush for its entertainment joints. Read more

The yellow toilets on the Mary Fitzgerald Square

Swish public loo opens in Newtown Public toilets have opened in Newtown, boasting a fresh design and a bright exterior. The City promises they are "clean, safe and strategically placed". March 15, 2007 By Tammy O'Reilly NATURE calls in the most unlikely places; and if this should happen while you're chilling in Newtown, there are shiny new ablution facilities where you can answer it. "The best seats in town" – as they are being marketed by the Johannesburg Development Agency and the City of Johannesburg – are to be found inside the two pod-like structures. There is a yellow one on Mary Fitzgerald Square and a purple one in the parking lot of the Market Theatre complex. Inside, there are eight stalls in each of the male and female toilets and all sanitary ware, from soap dispensers to electric hand dryers, are in a silver metal finish. The bright purple toilets in the parking lot of the Market Theatre Precinct Speaking at the opening of the facility in Mary Fitzgerald Square on 14 March, Ruby Mathang, the member of the mayoral committee for development planning and urban management, said the toilets would "provide dignified relief for Newtown patrons". "No effort was spared in designing these facilities. They are not only correctly positioned but they are clean, safe and strategically placed so that they can be seen and accessed by all visitors to this area. "During the construction phase we encountered many challenges, such as the ageing water and sewerage infrastructure, but our determination to give people coming to this area a suitable facility has ensured the completion of the structure." Concerts, festivals and flea markets frequently bring many people to the square; organisers have to hire public toilets for these events, but the new facilities will bring some relief. The toilets are open to the public, free of charge, 24 hours a day seven days a week. Maintenance is the responsibility of the Newtown Improvement District and the City's Corporate and Shared Services Directorate. 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 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za