Paper short abstract:

The paper focuses on contrasting logics between sanitation design solutions promoted by humanitarian agencies and the approach of a Cape Town-based sanitation activists concerned with redirecting state resources from the privileged enclaves of middle class suburbs to poor neighbourhoods.

Paper long abstract:

Humanitarian agencies, donors and philanthropic foundations are increasingly looking for instant "technical fixes" in order to circumvent costly and complicated interventions and programmes that may require long-term reform of state institutions and systems. The logic underpinning these quick and quantifiable interventions is that they can be implemented relatively easily in a wide variety of settings. This technological vision is evident in the Gates Foundation's programme involving eight international university research teams that were commissioned to "redesign the modern toilet." The aim of this research programme is to ultimately eradicate sanitation problems and water-borne diseases in the developing world. This "humanitarian design" approach to sanitation has resulted in numerous projects throughout Africa, including the Canadian-designed "dignity toilet" and the ambitious rollout of 90,000 urine diversion (UD) toilets in Durban (see Penner). These ambitious programmes, which are plagued by all sorts of implementation problems, contrast starkly with the more conventional technological solutions promoted by sanitation activists from organisations such as the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), a social movement based in the informal settlements of Khayelitsha in Cape Town. The SJC approach focuses on modern state sanitation infrastructure and systems and seeks to make these more accessible to the urban poor. Instead of seeking "African sanitation solutions" these activists have sought to redirect state sanitation budgets, services and technologies from the privileged enclaves of middle class suburbs to poor neighbourhoods. The paper is concerned with examining the differing logics, intersections and contradictions between these approaches to sanitation in South Africa.