Championing Hygiene: Bidvest supports the national school sanitation initiative

The dangers of pit toilets are wellknown in SA schools. It is an ongoing concern as children continue to face the nightmare risk of falling into the pits. Despite efforts by the authorities to change this situation, progress is slow and incidents continue to be reported.

With Bidvest's committed intention and purpose to create meaningful change, improve lives, and contribute positively to society, it made a decision that it cannot stand on the sidelines and watch this unfolding tragedy. Social transformation through economic upliftment of communities and businesses, and investment in education and health, are prerequisites at Bidvest. Strategic partnerships have been established with key stakeholders to gain scale, add value and entrench long-term relationships through common purpose. One of the examples of this is the work being done, alongside government, to implement a national initiative to support change in the current flawed schools' sanitation situation.

Bidvest has completed two pilot projects, with the handover to beneficiaries successfully achieved during the 2022/23 financial year. AM Lembede Primary School in Parys, Free State, and Ethembeni Primary School in Daggakraal, Mpumalanga, were recipients of new and upgraded sanitation facilities, greatly enhancing the overall hygiene and convenience for learners and staff.

AM Lembede Primary School benefited from the refurbishment of existing toilets which had been badly vandalised, and the installation of 41 EaziFlush^TM toilet pedestals (some incorporating child seat lids) and 41 Flush on Demand forty-two-litre tanks as well as six retro fit waterless urinals. The new system uses as little as two litres of water, as opposed to the conventional nine litres usually required to flush a toilet. This translates into a significant saving and a dual benefit to not only the end user, but also the municipality and water service authorities. The system is designed to be compatible with a conventional sewer system and places far less strain on the sewage treatment plant because of the great reduction in the volume of water required for flushing. The school principal expressed significant gratitude on behalf of the school to all concerned, saying that "it has brought lifetime change to the learners".

The Ethembeni school needed a treatment plant to enable the school to make use of the existing waterborne ablution facilities originally constructed in 2021. Bidvest provided a next generation 'off the Water Grid' recirculation wastewater and sanitation treatment system. The installed system treats wastewater and kills harmful pathogens without the need for connections to sewers, treatment plants or water supply. Bidvest arranged for the installation of the backend treatment plant as well as solar PV panels, an inverter and lithium-ion battery. The solar energy will not only be used for the wastewater treatment plant but will enable the school to benefit from excess energy generated by the solar PV panel during the day when the grid is available. This will make a significant contribution to reducing the school's energy costs.

With these modern upgrades comes the necessity for training relating to cleaning and maintaining the new facilities, and janitors are now equipped to upkeep these enhanced amenities properly.

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