16 Feb 2015

Residents of Mmathethe in the Southern District have been irked by the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources decision to rescind without their knowledge the initial idea to connect their village to the North-South water carrier via Digawana. 

They expressed shock and termed as “news,” the ministry’s resolution during a kgotla meeting on Feberuary 12 where they demanded answers on the matter from Good Hope Sub-district’s deputy district commissioner, Mr Moagi Kenosi.

Residents also used the platform to brainstorm and chart the way forward to address the matter once and for all. First to fire salvo at the decision was Kgosi Daniel Mathiba who said although they appreciated interventions put in place to supply residents with water, the decision meant that Mmathethe will only get connected in 2017.

“Water Utilities Corporation delegation that we met as village leadership this week has told us the design of the phase II of the North-South Water Carrier will connect us via Metlojane village,” he said.

He noted the WUC delegation had explained to the leadership financial implications were the primary reason behind the decision. To mitigate dire water shortage, Kgosi Mathiba said temporary measures have been lined up by both WUC and village leadership. 

He said one such measure is to engage a private firm to connect one of the boreholes in Segwagwa through solar energy to augment water in Mmathethe.

Commenting former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and resident of Mmathethe concurred with Kgosi Mathiba that Mmathethe was hard-done by the unpopular decision. He therefore cast aspersions on commitment by Water Utilities Corporation to supply the people of Mmathethe with reliable water. How a government ministry with a full-fledged publicity unit did not appraise Mmathethe populace on such pertinent changes baffled him.

“The delegation that is accompanying the Deputy District Commissioner to the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resource consultative forum should state categorically that the people of Mmathethe are not happy with the turn of events,” he said. ENDS