21 Mar 2017

The problem of water leakages has been addressed using in-house crew and handymen through the Gaborone City Council (GCC) at Phillip Moshotle Primary School, Parliament has been told.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said to date there has never been a major leakage in the school’s water system that may warrant major maintenance.

He said the ministry through its outsourced and in-house maintenance crew continues to cut water loss due to leakages, as part of its maintenance response. Mr Van Der Westhuizen said the total amount paid to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) for Phillip Moshotle School from 2012 was P2.7million.

He further said teachers as tenants and the sole occupants of council houses should routinely inspect and note any unusual variations of the meter readings and report to WUC or GCC for assessment and corrective action.

“It is therefore the responsibility of the tenants to pay bills due from the unreported water loss and of course being the only person who has full access to all fittings within and outside the rented premises at all times to note such leakages and faults,” he said.

He was answering Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who wanted to know what was being done to address water leakages at the said school for the past five years and how much has so far been spent in water bills since 2012.

Mr Nkaigwa also wanted to know if the ministry was aware that teachers are also experiencing the same water leakages.

He also wanted to know as to who is expected to pay bills for such leakages at teachers quarters. ENDS