This initiative forms part of Planact’s Responsive Living Environment Programme and is delivered in partnership with Planact, 1to1 Agency of Engagement, International Budget Partnership South Africa, Asivikelane, and Corobrik.
Background
In many informal settlements, Ventilated Improved Pit toilet (VIP) back-slabs are put together as makeshift structures, often without formal construction training or proper materials. This happens in part because the City of Johannesburg’s infrastructure provision and maintenance systems frequently fail, leaving residents to improvise their own sanitation solutions. As a result, VIP toilet slabs are built without technical guidance, leading to unsafe slabs, rapid deterioration, and ongoing health and safety risks for the families who rely on them.
This accredited training on building and Civil Construction initiative builds on the recent construction of VIP back-slabs completed by Asivikelane volunteers in Lawley Station in November 2025. Following this work, it became clear that an accredited training was essential to strengthen participants’ technical knowledge, improve compliance with building standards, and ensure the safety of residents who will rely on these structures.
About the Training
The two-week accredited course, which began on Monday, 1 December 2025, equips City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Sanitation Hub Champions with certified Building and Civil Construction skills. These Champions, consisting of local volunteers and community facilitators, will lead the construction and installation of VIP back-slabs across informal settlements in Johannesburg.
A cohort of 10 Champions is participating, representing Lawley Station, Mountain City, and Kanana Park. Currently, the programme is being implemented specifically in Region G informal settlements within the City of Johannesburg.