24 Jun 2014

The Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, has told Shoshong constituents that no dam would be built in their constituency.

Mr Mokaila, who was addressing a kgotla meeting on June 20, said a study was conducted throughout the country and that dams had been constructed in places deemed suitable.

He urged people to conserve water either way saying the use of house gutters and water drums should be revived.

The Mahalapye/Palapye Water Utilities Corporation’s general manager, Ms Daphne Motsumi, said there were only three bowsers that served the entire region and therefore people should conserve water.

The two authorities were responding to pleas by the local Water Crisis Management Committee - the area Member of Parliament, Mr Phillip Makgalemele’s initiative - which had requested for the construction of a dam in their area.

The chairperson of the committee, Brigadier Olekanye Mabengane had said the residents had warned that there was a lot of water wasted during rainy seasons and therefore there was need to construct a dam in the area.

Brigadier Mabengane also said the residents complained of frequent breakdowns of water pipes and that the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) often took long to repair equipment.

He said the residents missed the days when the local council’s water unit was in charge because it used to engage casual labourers to assist, but that WUC depended on limited machinery which often took long to arrive at the site.

He also said the people were concerned about the huge amount they paid for water consumption yet most of the time there was no water.

He also said some villages had long called on the corporation to increase water bowsers in their areas to curb water shortage.

The Water Crisis Management Committee was appointed to address the water situation against the needs in the Shoshong constituency and make a detailed analysis of current and future plans and interventions by WUC and make recommendations on how they could be assisted. ENDS