Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – 17 June 2026 – More than 1,100 learners at Nsimbini Full Service School in Cato Manor celebrated Youth Day with a powerful lesson in dignity, hygiene and community action as Baby Soft and SOS NPO officially launched the Janitress Cleaning Programme in KZN.
The launch event brought learning and hygiene together through soap-making activities, hand-painting, songs, handwashing demonstrations and interactive educational games. The day concluded with a Hygiene Pledge, where learners committed to becoming champions of cleanliness within their school and community.
Nsimbini School is one of 200 schools and Early Childhood Development centres across South Africa selected to participate in the Janitress Cleaning Programme, an initiative designed to strengthen school sanitation through specialised training, cleaning equipment, uniforms, protective gear and ongoing support for school sanitation workers.
The programme comes at a critical time for South African schools. While considerable investment has been made in improving sanitation infrastructure, many schools continue to struggle with maintaining clean, safe and functional facilities. Limited maintenance resources, aging infrastructure and inadequate hygiene practices often result in facilities deteriorating long before their intended lifespan.
The consequences are significant. Learners who avoid using school toilets due to cleanliness concerns are more vulnerable to health risks, reduced concentration and lower attendance. For many children, access to clean and dignified sanitation remains a daily challenge that directly affects their educational experience.
At schools such as Nsimbini, where more than a thousand learners rely on sanitation facilities every day, Janitresses play a vital role in protecting learner health and wellbeing. Yet their contribution is often overlooked despite being essential to creating safe and dignified learning environments.
A special moment during the launch was the introduction of Nsimbini School’s Janitress, Nombeko Victoria Soyamba, to the learners. Speaking proudly about her role, Soyamba pledged her commitment to keeping the school’s sanitation facilities clean, safe and welcoming for every learner. With a smile, she reminded learners that maintaining clean toilets is everyone’s responsibility and joked that anyone caught misusing or damaging the facilities could expect a visit to the Principal’s office. Her comments were met with laughter and applause from learners and educators alike, reinforcing the message that respect for school facilities starts with every individual.
“Our Janitresses are the unsung heroines of school sanitation,” said Shelley Humphreys, CEO of SOS NPO. “Their daily dedication protects children’s health, preserves school infrastructure and helps create environments where learners can focus on their education. By investing in their skills and recognising their contribution, we are building cleaner schools, healthier learners and stronger communities.”
Patrick Bukasa of Baby Soft said the programme represents a long-term commitment to sustainable sanitation in schools, “Every child deserves access to clean, safe and dignified sanitation facilities. Building toilets is only part of the solution. Their long-term success depends on proper maintenance, hygiene education and the people who care for them every day. Through the Janitress Cleaning Programme, we are investing in the individuals who keep school sanitation facilities functional and welcoming, ensuring that these facilities continue to serve learners for years to come.”
Bukasa added: “The launch at Nsimbini Primary School reminds us that sanitation is about far more than infrastructure. It is about dignity, health, confidence and creating environments where children can learn and thrive. By working together with schools, communities and partners, we can ensure that learns can get comfortable not only in the classroom, and on the playground, but also when using school toilets.”
Through SOS NPO’s Germbusters education programme, learners will also receive fun, play-based hygiene education designed to encourage lifelong healthy habits. The programme combines improved maintenance with behaviour change, helping schools create sustainable cultures of cleanliness and care.
The launch at Nsimbini School demonstrated that safe sanitation is not simply about toilets—it is about protecting dignity, improving health and creating opportunities for every learner to succeed.
Cleanliness is Happiness. Daily Dignity. Heroines Championing Cleanliness.
Media Enquiries
Shelley Humphreys
CEO, SOS NPO
[email protected]
065 864 4053