19 Aug 2018

The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) is said to be in the processes of changing its name.

Speaking at a one-day stakeholders workshop in Nata recently, the departments deputy director, Mr Pelotshweu Phofuetsile said the name would change from Department of Water Affairs to Water and Sanitation Services.

He said following the water reforms of 2006-2012, many people believed that the department had been incorporated into Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), emphasising that that was not the case.

He said the department continued with its mandate of water management and forwarding the services of water supply to WUC.

The deputy director said the rebranding was an effort to show Batswana that the department existed as the major process department, adding that their work was to make assessments, plan and maintain water resources for domestic, agricultural, commercial and industrial use among other things.

Mr Phofuetsile stated that having sanitation in the proposed name was for the department to monitor and impose adequate controls on the disposal of sanitation water into water streams.

He also noted that the department provided effective leadership for water resources planning, development and management for the government as well as assisting and advising in the formulation of water resources development and management policies.

He said the rebranding would also help them to align the services they offered so that they could be easily accessible to communities across the country.

Water rights officer, Mr Tshito Babusi explained that the department was the one that offered applications for water rights.

Mr Babusi advised stakeholders to follow proper channels of acquiring water rights, adding that there was a board which dealt with applications for rights for any amount of water either permanent or temporary.

He further pointed out that the board could grant, deny, vary or withdraw water rights depending on their assessment. ENDS