06 Mar 2017

 Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Prince Maele said his ministry would cease charging consumers the standard water charge of P20, come April.
Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama in Khudumelapye on March 2, Mr Maele said this comes after Batswana across the country complained about the charge, saying they end up paying high accumulative bills even when their taps have run dry for months.
“Last year I approached cabinet with the matter and pleaded with them to allow me to scrap the charge, and fortunately they heeded my plea,” he announced to the delight of the attendants.
Mr Maele was responding after Ms Gobotswamang Ramosesane complained that the standard charge was too high, and that they feel hard done by it, especially that their village sometimes goes for months without running water.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane informed the residents that their type two kgotla office has been included in the National Development Plan 11.
“You should however be aware that the NDP 11 runs for six years, so it does not necessarily mean that the office will come soon. In the meantime you will have to make do with the little that you have because the fact of the matter is that your current office is better than in other villages where there is totally no office,” he said.
Mr Tsogwane also advised the residents to consider constructing an additional classroom block with the recently introduced Constituency Fund to cater for the reception classes.
Mr Tsogwane was responding after Kgosi Edwin Ramokobetwane complained that his village was often promised development projects that never see the light of the day, citing the kgotla office, police station and the tarring of the Letlhakeng-Khutse road that passes through his village. ENDS