24 May 2016

The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has announced level two water restrictions in Molepolole, Thamaga and Thebephatshwa effective May 23.

Speaking to media and stakeholders in Molepolole on Monday (May 23), WUC acting chief executive officer, Mr Mmetla Masire, said the corporation had decided to impose water restrictions in order to improve the water situation in the three areas.

The restrictions, according to Mr Masire, would include watering of gardens as well as parks and spots fields using horse pipes, portable water for construction purposes except with written permission from the corporation, automatic urinals and ornamental water features among others.

He said the corporation would also stop assisting agricultural projects in schools as well as poverty eradication projects because water levels in Molepolole, Thebephatshwa and Thamaga was far below the required amount.

The problem, he said, was compounded by poor network that required extensive rehabilitation. Mr Masire said the drying up of the underground water sources especially the four boreholes at the Gaotlhobogwe well field worsened the situation.

He said they had hoped for completion of the North South Carrier Two NSC II pipeline project passing through Thamaga to Kanye, but negotiations with some farm owners delayed the project.   

The WUC general manager in Molepolole, Ms Boitumelo Kgaodi, said they had hoped to avert the Molepolole water problem through connection of six boreholes in Malwelwe and Suping, but the situation had gone from bad to worse.

Mr Kgaodi stated that the old network system required rehabilitation. The water works engineer Mr Seabe Mabua said some wards were lying on high areas where water could not easily reach.

Meeting attendants expressed disappointment at the corporation’s failure to provide portable water for residents of Thamaga, Molepolole and Thebephatshwa.

They alleged that the corporation failed them, despite promises previously made during a kgotla meeting by the Minister of Minerals Energy and Water Resources. 

However, Mr Masire promised to convene a kgotla meeting where residents would have ample to express their views. ENDS