A pan by South Africa's department of basic education to introduce unisex or gender-neutral toilets in schools has been opposed.

A group of concerned citizens launched an online petition against the plan some citing its needlessness whiles others insist that doing so will bring about social ills.

The petition, as at mid-November, had been signed by over 60,000 people.

“Toilets are private and suggesting that girls and boys share toilets will bring about many social ills,” the petition read in part.

The plan was contained in a leaked report from the department that also contains a proposal on the abolishment of gender-specific pronouns, the BBC Africa LIVE page reported.

The issue has also taken a political twist among opposition parties. Whiles The National Freedom Party (NFP), insists there are weightier things for the authorities to prioritize, an official of the Democratic Alliance, the largest opposition party - a largely pro-white party - said the move "would allow for education on gender diversity."

The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has urged the government to consult teachers and parents before the plan is implemented, the BBC report added.