A principal’s desperate letter for help following a terrifying pit toilet accident was met with compassion and incredible support that has resulted in 18 new sanitation facilities at Zakhele Primary School.
Upper Tongaat, South Africa (17 March 2026) – When a Zakhele Primary School pupil went to the toilet during the school day and narrowly escaped a fatal fall, the principal pulled her out and wrote a desperate letter to the one organisation she could think of that would help: Breadline Africa.
Zakhele Primary School was built in 1995. Today, it serves 250 learners, including 46 Grade R children and seven children with disabilities. Seven teachers work every day to create stability and learning in classrooms where infrastructure is visibly deteriorating.
Outside, only eight dark, unhygienic pit toilets served the entire school community. Despite the school community’s efforts to repair the damage, during heavy rain, water flooded the unpaved area around the toilets, making access unsafe.
At times, children avoided using the facilities altogether.
But their concerns and cries finally fell on the right ears.
With generous funding from its sponsors and partnership with a supplier and distributor of quality sanitation products, Breadline Africa replaced the unsafe sanitation and restored the dignity of the children of Zakhele Primary School.
On 5 March, the school officially received 18 new sanitation facilities: low-flush toilets, waterless urinals and two accessible toilets for children with disabilities, along with new handwashing stations.
The overjoyed learners marked the occasion with a drama performance on hygiene and sanitation, as well as poetry and artwork celebrating the school community. Guests, partners and school leadership gathered for the official handover and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Marion Wagner, CEO of Breadline Africa, emphasised that no child should face danger simply to use the toilet at school.
“Replacing pit toilets removes an immediate risk, but the scale of need across South Africa remains significant. Sustainable progress depends on partnership between government, investors and civil society.”
A grateful principal, Mrs SN Gumede, shared her relief and appreciation for the new and safe facilities:
“The incident was a frightening reminder of how vulnerable our children are. The new facilities mean our learners can come to school and focus on their education without fear. This has restored a sense of safety and confidence across our school community.”
Sources: Breadline Africa
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