Dunoon community leader condemns theft of chemical toilets in informal settlements

CAPE TOWN - Dunoon community leader, Thando Dedezane, has condemned the theft of toilets provided by the City of Cape Town to informal settlements in the area.
 
It's believed that criminals are stealing the mobile chemical toilets and selling them around the area.
 
It's further alleged that the buyers then charge other residents a fee to use the toilets.
 
According to Dedezane, this has been an ongoing trend that they've been fighting as community leaders.
 
In recent weeks, residents of several informal settlements in Dunoon took to the streets protesting over their living conditions and blocked Potsdam Road and Malibongwe Drive with burning tyres.
 
Dedezane said it was unfortunate that vulnerable people in desperate need of the services were being put through this.
 
"If you look at that road for instance, little children because of a lack of facilities cross that road to go help themselves across the road close to the farm. Some of these kids get knocked over and get hurt because of a lack of ablution facilities on the other side. So yes, I see the criminality and I condemn it."
 
Dedezane added that while he was not an expert on extortion, residents were being forced to pay for what should be a free service.
 
"If this is a pattern of an extortion element where now ablution facilities will be hired out by extortionists, it will be something new and something quite unfortunate."