09 Jul 2013

Kgosi Edwin Ramokobetwane of Khudumelapye in the Letlhakeng sub district has expressed concern over failure by Water Utilities Corporation to attend on time reports of pipe leakages in his village.

In an interview, Kgosi Ramokobetwane said this contributes to the already worrying situation of poor water reticulation in the village, adding the corporation never gives a satisfactory answer for their delay.

“Normally when we seek answers they tell us that they will address the situation, but that hardly ever happens,” he said. He said at Modimo ward the situation has worsened because residents can go for a whole month without water.

“Despite having connected private water pipes, residents fetch water from the public standpipes in other parts of the village. Some public standpipes in the village have long been closed even before the water corporation took over,” he said.

Kgosi Ramokobetwane also complained about inadequate doctors at the clinic and that expectant mothers have to travel long distances for ante-natal check-ups. Some do not have accommodation in Letlhakeng, he added.

He asked for an additional doctor because the current one also services Salajwe, Kaudwane and Sorilatholo apart from Khudumelapye,.

He said they have also requested for the construction of a maternity ward at the clinic, but authorities have informed them that the population of Khudumelapye warrants neither an additional doctor nor a maternity wing at the clinic.

Kgosi Ramokobetwane was however, grateful for the good maintenance of the 20km Letlhakeng/Khudumelapye gravel road, expressing hope that with time it will be up-graded to tarmac standard.

For his part, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman, Mr Kelemogile Sebute expressed concern at lack of enough permanent and pensionable teachers at the local primary school, saying temporary teachers outnumber permanent teachers.

“So far we have around 13 temporary teachers and six permanent teachers. This does not augur well for the performance of the school, especially that temporary teachers can leave anytime for permanent employment elsewhere,” he said.

He said their school also lacks a proper food  storage facility. ENDS