A bucket sanitation system is being replaced by waterborne sanitation at an apartheid
created town called Ekuvukeni near Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal. This study examines the
reasons for upgrading sanitation at Ekuvukeni from a bucket system to a waterborne
system, the problems and issues surrounding this project and the likely consequences for
Ekuvukeni and the surrounding environment.. The study found that complex political and
structural issues and problems have developed around sanitation at Ekuvukeni. These
together with other software issues related to sanitation in the South African context have
not been adequately considered. The result is that there are many uncertainties which
increase the risk of waterborne sanitation system failure and this in turn, would have '
disastrous consequences for the people of Ekuvukeni and the surrounding environment.
