26 Jun 2018

Despite the water supply in Kgatleng District being mostly stable with enough pressure to supply both low and high lying areas, the villages of Mabalane, Dikwididi, Ramotlabaki and Bokaa are still experiencing the shortage, especially in high lying areas.

Delivering his speech during Kgatleng District Full Council on June 25, council chairperson, Mr Mpho Morolong said there were three on-going projects within the district that were intended to address the water shortage.

“Refurbishment and optimisation of Mabalane water treatment plant tender has been awarded. The intention is to improve its performance,” he said.

Mr Morolong, who is also the councillor for Boseja Central said the delivery of the project would restore water supply to the Kgatleng six river villages, which have experienced severe water shortages during the period when the plant was out of operation.

He noted that the project would be completed in December and should be able to produce water quality that is compliant with  BOS32:2015 drinking water standards. 

Mr Morolong said another project entailed drilling, construction, development and test pumping of one replacement borehole at Ramotlabaki, which was completed on April 6. 

He said the project was a success as it had achieved its objective of developing sufficient water for Ramotlabaki.

“The drilling and test pumping of the replacement of production borehole at Ramotlabaki is intended to restore water supply in the village,” he said.

However, Mr Morolong said Ramotlabaki village still faced water supply crisis following the collapse of its only water supply borehole BH 4271 in 2014.

“Attempts to rehabilitate the borehole were futile as the borehole is too old, having been drilled in 1953,” he said.

He said at the moment the Water Utilities Cooperation (WUC) maintenance team was equipping the borehole and commissioning is scheduled for the end of this month.

Mr Morolong further said Bokaa Pipeline had been awarded and the objective of the project was to improve water supply efficiently through the construction of a reliable transmission pipeline and provision of additional storage.

He said the project involved the construction of a 250mm diameter pipeline, construction of a lift station, construction of a 1 500m³ galvanized steel tank and a 500m³ elevated galvanized tank. 

The project, which was awarded in May, is expected to be completed in November.

Mr Morolong said the contractor was finalising mobilisation, which will be followed by excavations for the pipeline, adding, ‘in the meantime a short-term   invention of water browsing would continue to augment supply at the affected areas.” ENDS