04 Sep 2013

Residents of Mahalapye East have complained about Water Utilities Corporation’s (WUC) decision to phase out public standpipes.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by the area MP, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso recently, residents complained that they no longer had access to water since public stand pipes had been faced out.

Mr Adiretse Letsatsi said although the public knew that standpipes would eventually be phased out, WUC never informed them which stand pipe would be left for public use. He said WUC should have engaged the community to help identify standpipes that would be a median distance for consumers.

The current situation was such that some residents fetched water from far and this was a big challenge, especially for the elderly. He suggested that standpipes that were currently shut should be re-opened while WUC put measures in place to provide people with prepaid water coupons.

A resident, Ms Masego Sakane said WUC should speed up issuance of pre-paid coupons so the public could fetch water close by. She also said issuance of water coupons was slow and many people who had not yet connected water to their homesteads were suffering.

In response, WUC Mahalapye station manager, Mr Tshito Babusi said people were notified about the programme, which was being rolled out not only in Mahalapye but throughout the country. He said all public stand pipes would be eventually phased out thus people should make sure they get water coupons to be able to purchase water. 

People who did not have plot certificates were requested to get a confirmation or an affidavit from their chief so that they could be provided with coupons.Mr Babusi also urged communities to refrain from vandalising water pipes to water livestock. ENDS