01 Jun 2014

An official from Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has unreservedly apologised to the residents of Gopong in the Southern District for the village’s reported persistent water shortage.

Mr James Moyo admitted during a kgotla meeting addressed by Ngwaketse South MP, Mr Peter Siele recently that indeed the water shortage in the village was real and serious.

However, Mr Moyo said it was surprising because boreholes and the engines that supplied Gopong with water were intact and operational and the person charged with the duty to operate the engines was available. At its peak, the water problem was reported to have gone on for three weeks with the residents having nothing to at least drink.

The WUC official owned up to the slip-up saying it could only mean that those charged with the responsibility to facilitate Gopong with water were sleeping on their job; thus he promised to take action henceforth.

The residents accepted Mr Moyo’s explanation saying the situation had left them with no choice but to resort to drinking from harmful water sources such as natural wells.

Mr Moyo, who is WUC’s works superintendent in the area, assured Gopong populace that their village would have reliable water supply from the second face of the North-South Water Carrier project.

Mr Siele, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, blamed the situation on failure by the corporation to consult and appraise residents on regular basis, which could improve its public relations and dispel possible confusion and misconceptions.

The Minister and his entourage also had the opportunity to tour the four-teacher primary school under construction in Gopong and expressed happiness at the progress made so far.

“I am happy with the progress made and mind you this project is among the many that the government is doing through Ipelegeng programme and it has proven to be a good move by the government.”

Senior Assistant Council Secretary for Goodhope, Ms Keitumetse Moilwa shared Mr Siele’s sentiments saying the contractors engaged were doing a laudable job both in terms of workmanship and pace.

The unavailability of sand due to the recent ban on sand mining by the Department of Mines had slowed down the progress of the project which was supposed to have been handed over to the Goodhope Sub District Council in March.

“As it is, the project will be handed over at the end of June and hopefully we should be able to enroll students immediately because the teaching staff for this school is ready and rearing to go.” Ms Moilwa said.

Gopong’s four-teacher school is expected to help ease long distances travelled by pupils to schools in neighbouring villages such as Digawana.

The residents also felt the establishment of the school would bolster pupils’ performance. Ends