This variable is important as it visually indicates population growth within South Africa as well as provides an indication of whether access to basic sanitation has improved within the country. Target 10 of Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals requires a halving of the proportion of households without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

An increase access to sanitation is a key component of development and poverty reduction, as it has major health benefits as well as associated social, economic and environmental benefits. Inadequate sanitation can cause several diseases which are transmitted to humans through exposure to sewage. Sanitation is a critical intervention needed to improve living conditions among South Africa’s poor and to reduce or prevent diarrhoea and other seriously debilitating conditions, especially among children.

South Africa has reduced the relative proportion of households without sanitation infrastructure from 50.1% in 1994 to 27.4 % in 2007. Significant progress has therefore been made towards achieving this Millennium Development Goal 7. It should be noted that the figure reflects the provision of infrastructure and does not reflect actual use if the service has been provided.