LICHTENBURG — Vulnerable workers at the cash-strapped Ditsobotla Local Municipality are demanding urgent access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) after being forced to clear raw human waste without basic safety gear.

General workers tasked with emptying pit toilets in Coligny have revealed they are operating entirely without masks, gloves, or protective clothing.

The North West municipality, which is currently under national government intervention due to a severe financial crisis, has reportedly failed to provide routine medical screenings for these employees.

Several workers allege they have contracted severe illnesses due to direct exposure to raw sewage, with one 10-year veteran stating that management has continuously ignored safety requests.

 Health concerns have reached critical levels, with employees reporting alarming symptoms, including internal bleeding, which they attribute directly to their hazardous and unhygienic working conditions