NBI NewsFlash, 11 June 2020
The City of Ekurhuleni’s MMC for Water and Sanitation, Tiisetso Nketle, yesterday launched the Portable Hand Washing Facility project in Qalabosha Informal Settlement in Ekurhuleni.
With water, sanitation and hygiene considered the best defence against the spread of COVID-19, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) is tackling the pandemic head on with two innovative, yet simple technologies. These technologies have been developed in alliance with Business for South Africa (B4SA) and the National Business Initiative (NBI).
The CoE will be installing locally manufactured foot-operated hand washing facilities in public places, as well as giving out affordable hand washing units for home-use, in prioritised informal settlements across Ekurhuleni.
In the keynote address, Councillor Nketle emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying: “Ekurhuleni is a partnership that works. Our communities as a municipality also belong to you as business. So we will continue to work together with business, through these public private partnerships, in order for us to execute our shared responsibility to our communities”. In addition, a demonstration of the two units was undertaken during the launch, highlighting the ease of use of these durable, locally made hand washing facilities.
With the current rollout of foot-operated hand washing facilities sponsored by NBI member company AECI, this initiative further demonstrates the value of public private partnerships.
Companies wishing to sponsor hygienic water access through hand washing units, benefitting thousands of less privileged households, please contact:
Alex McNamara, NBI: Water Lead (AlexM@nbi.org.za) or Mmaphefo Thwala (MmaphefoT@nbi.org.za)