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In this town, old women have to relieve themselves in a field

Some families have been living in Aloe-T informal settlement in Komani, Eastern Cape, since 1997

These pit toilets are broken and can no longer be used, say residents of Aloe-T. Photos: Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

Residents, including children and old people, have to use an open field as a toilet in Aloe-T informal settlement in Komani in the Eastern Cape.
The settlement has six communal toilets.
The municipality says it services them regularly, but residents say the toilets are unusable.
Families in neighbouring informal settlements also battle with sanitation and water problems.

In Aloe-T informal settlement in Komani, Eastern Cape, elderly women have to relieve themselves in an open field in broad daylight.
Aloe-T is one of the oldest settlements in Komani, dating back to 1997.
Residents say they were moved there to make way for an…

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  1. Biltong – seasoned strips of dried meat. Similar to beef jerky (but much tastier!), this is the spicy, cured snack eaten at rugby matches. It is usually made from beef, game and even ostrich.

  2. Fun South African Fact: The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of the world’s six floral kingdoms – and the only one which is wholly contained within a single country.