29 Mar 2017

Councillor Gomolemo Gouwe of Boseja North on Monday tabled an urgent motion seeking Kgatleng District Council to suspend business until Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) attends to water problem in the district.
The Council chairperson Mr Mpho Morolong quoted from the Council Standing Orders Section 33 which accord the councillor to present his motion if he had support to do so, to which the motion was seconded.
When presenting the motion Counclilor Gouwe said there was an urgent need for WUC to provide water in Kgatleng especially the hard hit villages of Bokaa, Sikwane and Mabalane.
He said it was necessary for all Batswana to have access to water especially that water was source of life. Mr Gouwe however said this was not the case as some villages could go for a month without water.
He emphasised that as representatives of the people, they had a mandate to ensure that people had access to services.
He said even government officers were affected by shortage of water adding that this had a possibility of affecting efficient service delivery. Councillor Gouwe said water shortage continued despite the dams in the country being full.
He said government took the right decision by stopping use of pit latrines but the initiative back fired when there was no water to run the toilets. He said in some instances students ended up being sent back home due to lack of water and they ended up engaging in ill behavior.
Having advanced his reasons, Councillor Gouwe called for support from his colleagues that council business be suspended until the matter was resolved.
Several councillors took to the podium with others in support while others argued that council business was not only about water but that they had a mandate to serve Bakgatla.
Councillor Molefe Mosothwane of Bokone ward said some of his electorates have to travel a kilometer to get water while some plots remained undeveloped after being allocated for more than 10 years due to water problems.
He asked WUC to address Batswana in kgotla meetings to explain the water situation.
Also in support, nominated councillor Daniel Phalaagae said it was painful to see people without water saying this has affected social activities such as wedding and funerals.
Councilor Molatlhegi Jautse of Sikwane/Mabalane ward said despite water plant being located in Mabalane, water problems still persisted and that the WUC were not giving them satisfactory answers.
Other councilllors disagreed with the motion despite understanding the urgency of the matter. They argued that council business could not be stopped over water issues while Bakgatla needed help with other services.
The deputy council chairperson reminded Councillor Gouwe and his supporters about council mandate and that council sitting was constituted in the standing orders which could not be abandoned.
The presenter of the motion pressed forward with the motion which led to the House voting for or against the motion and it was defeated by 18 votes to 5. ENDS