06 Aug 2014

Following the water sector reform exercise, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through Southern District Council (SDC) handed over Borehole 145 in Tsonyane to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) on May 1, 2012. 


This was said by the Assistant Minister of Lo of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, when responding to a question in parliament from Kanye South MP, Mr Abram Kesupile.


Prior to the handover of the borehole to WUC, Ms Tshireletso said the council held three consultative Kgotla meetings to address the community regarding the decision to handover the borehole to WUC. 


During these meetings, she said WUC representatives were present and the community was informed that the WUC policy was to provide potable water for domestic use only, “and as such the community was advised to consider looking for alternative water sources for watering their livestock.”


It is not council’s mandate to provide individual farmers with water for their livestock.

In this regard, the farmers must form a syndicate and identify a borehole within the proximity to Tsonyane village for watering their livestock. 
Water Utilities Corporation, Ms Tshireletso said identified three viable boreholes within a radius of ten kilometres from Tsonyane village with which the farming community could consider applying for equipping and utilising.

She said the community had been informed that council was not in position to equip the identified boreholes. 


“Since it is not council mandate to provide water for livestock, council is not therefore liable for any lost animals for livestock,” she added.


Mr Kesupile had asked Ms Tshiriletso if she was aware that the SDC in its pursuits for the handover of the borehole at Tsonyane to the WUC, left farmers without provision for water nor an alternative borehole duly equipped to water their livestock.


Kanye South MP also wanted to know if the Assistant Minister would explain why the SDC put the Tsonyane farmers in such a difficult situation and when would they be provided with a fully equipped borehole to water their livestock. Ends