12 Feb 2017

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development says in 2012 there was a concern by the education department in the South East District Council regarding exorbitant bills that were experienced in some schools.
Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the schools concerned were Mokgosi Memorial, Ketshwerebothata and Seboko primary schools.
She indicated that the matter was presented at the Education and Health Committee meeting in April 2012 where a resolution was taken to have the scope of investigations widened to include all schools in the district as well as day care centres under council.
She said consequently, a task force was formed to carry out the investigation after which the report was presented to council management in April 2015.
Ms Tshireletso further said the report recommended a couple of initiatives which the council has started implementing to ensure that water is not wasted in council facilities.
“Some of the recommendations include engaging school heads in annual meetings to emphasise the need for supervision to curb cases of vandalism in schools, maintenance of leaking toilets at Seboko and Ketshwerebothata primary schools as well as minor maintenance at Magopane Hill Primary School,” she said.
The assistant minister said others included continuous engagement of small contractors through the handyman programme to carry out minor maintenance especially on leakages in schools.
“Water Utilities Corporation separated metres at St. Conrad’s Primary School so as to bill the school separately from other church facilities and council continues to monitor bills from all facilities on a monthly basis so as to detect as early as possible any abnormal bills,” she concluded.
Member of Parliament for Ramotswa, Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister what happened to the report on high water bills at primary schools in Ramotswa that were presented to the South East District Council with recommendations in 2012. ENDS