The families of Rasta Camp informal settlement in Ocean View have just experienced a major upgrade to their daily lives. For a long time, the community shared 42 portable flush toilets. Today, they are stepping into a cleaner, brighter reality.
Ocean View, South Africa (17 June 2026) – For years, the families living at Rasta Camp, alongside the mountainside at the edge of Ocean View, relied on 42 portable flush toilets. But daily life here just took a major step forward.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership between the City of Cape Town, the Water Research Commission, and the Gates Foundation, residents are now using high-tech, off-grid toilets that bring a full-flush experience to areas where conventional plumbing is difficult to install.
This isn’t just about new technology. It’s about providing communities with the safe, reliable, and dignified sanitation that everyone deserves.
Rasta Camp marks the fifth and final pilot site being tested in this initiative, bringing Cape Town one step closer to sustainable, eco-friendly living for difficult-to-service areas.
Construction took place between late 2025 and early 2026 and presented several challenges, including difficult mountainous terrain and a high-water table.
The new installation features three refurbished shipping containers, each housing five full-flush toilets. Each toilet cubicle is fitted with a wash basin, sanitary bins and accessible options for people living with disabilities, including a wheelchair ramp.
More impressively, the facility operates entirely off-grid, powered by solar and wind energy, and includes a modular treatment plant that recycles wastewater into pathogen-free water for reuse in flushing. By treating and reusing water on site, the system eliminates the need for conventional sewer connections, making it particularly suited to areas with infrastructure constraints.
A trained local technical assistant and three janitors will be responsible for daily operations and cleanliness, with technical support provided by technology partner WEC during the first year of operation.
“This is a momentous occasion for the City and the residents of Rasta Camp as new sanitation innovations raise the bar for informal settlement service delivery. We now look to the community to use the facility responsibly, ensuring it is kept clean and in good condition,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
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With all five identified sites now handed over, the City will begin a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot project, assessing its technical, environmental, economic and social performance. The findings will inform whether this technology is a practical and cost-effective solution for broader implementation in informal settlements across Cape Town.
Sources: City of Cape Town
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