The City of Cape Town has unveiled a new high-tech, off-grid toilet system for residents of the OR Tambo Informal Settlement in Khayelitsha, marking a significant step toward improving sanitation in underserved communities. The installation features 27 full-flush toilets housed in three refurbished 12-metre shipping containers, offering a cleaner, more dignified alternative in areas without sewer infrastructure.
Powered entirely by solar and wind energy, the self-sustaining system is designed to operate independently of the municipal grid, making it suitable for informal settlements where service delivery challenges are common.
Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, said the initiative forms part of the City’s broader push to innovate and uplift vulnerable communities. “The City provides about 70,000 toilets to informal settlements across our city, and so being able to test and pilot this new technology is really a step in the right direction towards providing dignified sanitation to our poorest residents,” he noted.
Further rollout will depend on the success of the pilot phase.
VOC News
Photo: Pexels
