Misuse of public toilets prompts residents to install padlocks - nbc

Misuse of public toilets in the city's informal settlements has caused unsanitary conditions, prompting some community members to put padlocks on the doors to prevent further damage.

People often flush foreign objects down the toilets, causing blockages and wasting water, a situation the community says has become a major concern.

Community leader Andreas Iitenge in the Havana informal settlement raised concerns about the lack of cooperation among residents in maintaining the facilities provided by the municipality. Among the complaints was the theft of pipes and other materials used to construct these facilities.

"They start—as you can see—with stealing the copper pipes from behind here. The public steals those copper pipes and takes them to scrapers for their own gain," Iitenge said. "Now they are stealing the flush valves inside the toilets. They are still stealing those things. Once they steal them, water starts running out, and it's a waste."

Iitenge said the misuse of public toilets is creating a health hazard, as people often throw buckets, used to relieve themselves, under the doors.

He urged the community to take collective responsibility for these facilities, noting that the municipality has fulfilled its role by providing them.

"Who is the public? It's us. We are the public," Iitenge said. "Those facilities were provided to us by the City of Windhoek or the government for us to use. Now, if we don't use them properly, we are only hurting ourselves. That's why I'm asking community members to use the toilets properly, because this project is about hygiene. Without toilets, we don't have a healthy environment."

Iitenge has called for a community meeting set for this Sunday in Havana, where residents can ask questions and propose solutions.

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