14 May 2019

Water supply situation around Letlhakeng Sub-district is generally fair with water demand met in most of the villages except in Khudumelapye and Moshaweng, where water demand is marginally met.

Addressing Councillors during the first session of the Letlhakeng Sub-district Council session on May 13, sub-council chairperson Mr Thomas Batlhophi said Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) was still experiencing a decline in the yield of water from a number of boreholes, with the most affected villages being Ngware, Botlhapatlou and Motokwe.

In an attempt to correct the situation, WUC is cleaning and rehabilitating boreholes in declining yields in the above-mentioned villages, while a proposal to replace a collapsed borehole at Motokwe was submitted for funding as an emergency.

“The village water supply for Maboane, Dutlwe and Takatokwane cluster is marginally met in view of the demand from an integrated secondary school in Takatokwane, the demand has increased, hence the need for an upgrade,” he said.

Mr Batlhophi said a water supply infrastructure upgrade to connect one additional borehole, construct a 300m3 elevated collector reservoir at Maboane and upgrade water supply line to Mahupu was currently at the design stage under the administration of Ministry of Basic Education with technical support from WUC.

He added that WUC continued to implement projects aimed at improving water adequacy and reliability.

Moshaweng tank has been replaced and commissioned while Khudumelapye additional water source connection is at adjudication stage.

The chairperson further noted that the scope for Khudumelapye had been varied to include network rehabilitation and upgrading.

Mr Batlhophi however said vandalism of WUC property was still prevalent, especially water pipelines traversing long distances.

He said frequent the occurrence of vandalism was also reported on standpipes and this was affecting service to the communities.

The chairperson therefore emphasised the importance of water conservation and called upon fellow councillors to partake in conserving water resources.

The corporation is owed more than P33.9 million by its customers in the Molepolole management centre, from which more than P12.4 million is owed by government institutions.

He noted that the district council owed over P684 071 while business and commercial plots owed more than P1.6 million and the remaining P19.2 million is owed by individual customers.

He cautioned that WUC would continue to disconnect defaulters on monthly basis and encouraged customers to pay. ENDS