Asivikelane

Managing temporary sanitation in informal settlements: Lessons from Asivikelane

webfactory — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:36:23 +0000

The delivery of permanent sanitation infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the rapid growth of informal settlements. Cities rely on short-term solutions while waiting for permanent infrastructure. But “temporary” toilets often last for years, with billions spent on solutions costing more than permanent infrastructure. Based on years of systematic evidence collection and community engagement, we’ve identified six practical recommendations that can transform how municipalities manage temporary sanitation.

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2025 Impacts report

webfactory — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:47:40 +0000

Asivikelane aims to connect residents and government by building relationships. Our hubs bring together various groups – including reformers, donors, communities, private companies, and auditors – to tackle service delivery challenges in cities. We take a look at our impact over 2025 and showcase our contributions to improved access to safe drinking water, dignified sanitation, and regular refuse removal.

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Asivikelane made written submissions to the 2026/2027 Municipal Draft Budgets calling for more money for basic services for informal settlements.

webfactory — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:47:15 +0000

Click below to view submissions to the different municipalities:

Buffalo City Budget Response

Cape Town Budget Response: Repairs and Maintenance

Cape Town Budget Response: Waste

eThekwini Budget Response

Johannesburg Budget Response

Knysna Budget Response

Mangaung Budget Response

Nelson Mandela Bay Budget Response

Tshwane Budget Response

A Community Waste Guide

webfactory — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:46:02 +0000

We developed a practical guide to help communities transform waste challenges into opportunities. The guide demonstrates how sorting, recycling, and composting waste can contribute to cleaner and healthier neighborhoods. It includes step‑by‑step project plans, examples of waste mapping, and lists of recycling companies. This resource is designed to support anyone committed to improving their community’s environment.

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How to improve solid waste management in informal settlements

webfactory — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:22:31 +0000

Asivikelane worked with informal settlement residents to create a framework to improve solid waste management. These practical building blocks can help municipalities and communities to work together to improve recycling, composting and waste minimisation.

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A quarter of residents still don’t have access to a municipal provided toilet

webfactory — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:19:48 +0000

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what type of toilet they use. Only 10% of residents have flush toilets, the remainder use self-dug pit toilets, chemical toilets, Ventilated Improved Pit toilets, porta pottis or bucket toilets.

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Improving disaster preparedness = safer communities

webfactory — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:17:43 +0000

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what types of disasters they experienced over the past year. Residents experienced floods and fires which leads to loss of homes and belongings as well as illness. Residents asked for early weather warnings, functional communication networks and taps with enough pressure for fires.

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Basic training and tools can fix minor faults

webfactory — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:13:51 +0000

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities about communal services. Even when faults with taps and toilets are reported promptly through official channels, residents struggle to get them fixed. 79% of residents said they would fix services themselves if given tools and basic training.

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Residents share solutions to improve waste services

webfactory — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:27:26 +0000

In March 2025, we asked 5,308 residents across 202 informal settlements in 8 municipalities what interventions could improve solid waste management in their settlements. Residents asked for regular waste collection, provision of refuse bags and recycling support.

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Sustainable Informal Settlement Infrastructure Summit: Building sustainable infrastructure through community-driven repairs and maintenance solutions in informal settlements

webfactory — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:10:05 +0000

We hosted a Sustainable Informal Settlement Infrastructure Summit: bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders to foster partnerships and explore innovative solutions for dignified, sustainable access to essential basic services. The aim was to improve repairs and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure. The outcomes of the summit found that the future of repairs and maintenance is contingent upon empowering communities, reforming institutions, and forging resilient partnerships. The path forward must be rooted in a fundamental shift: from seeing repairs as a technical afterthought to recognising them as a cornerstone of dignity, health, and sustainable urban development.

Read the post-summit publication