24 Apr 2015

The Member of Parliament for Good Hope-Mabule constituency, Mr James Mathokgwane, has told constituents at Mokatako and Molete that acute water supply and power shortage remains a challenge in their constituency.

Addressing residents of the two villages in a series of kgotla meetings on April 20, Mr Mathokgwane told the residents that the whole country had been plagued by water and power shortages at unprecedented scale.

As a result, he said government was working around the clock to turn around the situation by developing primary water structures across the country as well as engaging in water commissioning projects from the northern part to the southern part of the country.

He said the Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources (MMWER) had been allocated more than P2 billion for the financial year of 2015/16 to turn around the situation.

At a local level, Mr Mathokgwane said tenders had been awarded to commission water from Leporung to supply villages of Phitshane Molopo and Mokatako.

For their part, residents complained about long distances they travel to draw water from neighbouring villages and also complained about high bills from Water Utilities Corporation. 

In his response, Water Engineer, Mr Omphemetse Kealeboga acknowledged water shortage situation in Barolong farms citing issues of dried local boreholes with low yields.

He said Mokatako village draws water from Dikhukhung borehole which he said is currently producing low yield of 2 000 litres of water per hour from a yield of 6 000 litres of water per hour thus failing to meet the demand in most parts of the villages.

He also said some water pipes are blocked with deposits of alkaline affecting the smooth flow of water.

Furthermore, he urged residents to keep their own personal meter readings for clarity with the water department whenever involved in high bill disputes and also urged them to guard against water misuse in the village.

In addition, Mr Kealeboga cited shortage of bowsers in their area saying it limits them to water affected areas on time. On other issues, Mr Mathokgwane urged residents to work collaboratively with law enforcement officers to guard against issues of crime in their constituency to make it safe to all citizens.

He also urged the youth in their constituency to utilise government programmes by venturing into business opportunities to sustain them as well as to bring developments to their constituency.

In her closing remarks, Gamolopo ward Councillor, Ms Dorah Pandor thanked Mr Mathokgwane for his visit to their villages to solicit motions from constituents.

She also urged residents to support their constituency leaders despite being affiliated to different political parties for the benefit of moving their constituency forward. ENDS