The so-called "poo wars" have grabbed the headlines in Cape Town in recent days, with some African National Congress (ANC) Youth League members protesting against the portable flush toilets. They argue that these toilets, which are being distributed in some parts of the city in a bid to eradicate the bucket system, are equally degrading.

On Monday, league member Loyiso Nkohla and former Cape Town councillor Andile Lili dumped human waste on the steps of the provincial legislature as part of a protest against the portable flush toilets. The two members now face prosecution.

The next day, protesters in Khayelitsha threw faeces at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille's convoy, after she had attended a green economy function.

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday to provide an update on the city's roll-out of portable flush toilets and other sanitation-related issues, Ms de Lille said the portable toilets provide the same privacy, dignity and safety as a normal flush toilet. She said these toilets were allocated to a single household for use and were therefore largely protected from vandalism.

"We have, in the past weeks, provided about 600 in the Sir Lowry's Pass area, in which some households were identified as using the bucket system, and an additional 1,300 to other areas across the city," she said. "This is in addition to the 11,307 that had previously been rolled out."

Ms de Lille said in some areas, such as Boys' Town and KTC, parts of the community resisted the city's efforts to provide families with the portable flush toilets. She said while the city was determined to give all residents access to "dignified" sanitation, "we cannot force people to accept our assistance".

She added: "If we continue to receive resistance to our efforts in a community, the city will be obliged to move our focus to areas where the initiatives are welcomed."

Mr Lili, who was earlier this year expelled from the council after being found guilty of participating in the illegal demolition of homes, said on Wednesday that the protests against the portable flush toilets would continue.

"These toilets are a legacy of apartheid. You should ask Zille and De Lille whether they can use them … I doubt if any right-thinking person can say these toilets are dignified," he said.

"What we are now saying is, wherever Zille goes, the bucket should follow her … we actually want to pour (the contents of the toilets) on her body so that she knows how we feel," he added.

Mr Lili said community members would also approach the courts and the Human Rights Commission to file a complaint against the roll-out of the toilets.

The commission could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.