15 Dec 2020

The Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila is aware of the recurring water shortage in Ghanzi North particularly in Qabo and Grootlaagte areas.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Mzwinila highlighted that the water demand for Qabo settlement was 75m3/day whilst the current supply stood at 36m3/day.

He said this was an indication that the village experienced water supply deficit of 29m3/day. On the water demand for Grootlaagte settlement, Mr Mzwinila said it stood at a level of 95m3/day whilst the current supply was 39m3/day showing a deficit of 46m3/day.

“We have since realised that the two villages are supplied from a shared borehole (BH9047) which yields a supply of 75m3/day, and is unable to meet the demand of the two villages,” he said.

Mr Mzwinila further explained that the original borehole yield after drilling was 300m3/day 1999 but it had since declined to the current yield due to over mining to try and meet the demand of the two villages.

“To mitigate the circumstance of acute water shortages, a water bowser is deployed to supply water during these breakdowns,” he said.

Mr Mzwinila reiterated that the borehole and the pipeline had experienced numerous breakdowns over the months of October, November and December 2020, which led to an interrupted supply to both villages.

He further explained that the breakdowns were due to aged pipelines with limited air release valves which made it prone to frequent burst.

To address the issues, he said Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) had since installed a new borehole engine at a cost of P94 000 and strengthened some of the pipeline sections at a cost of P5 080.

As a medium to long term solution, Mr Mzwinila said his ministry through the Department of Water and Sanitation had since undertaken geophysical investigation and sited additional boreholes in the aforementioned villages with the intention to drill four production boreholes per settlement and ultimately connect to the water scheme.

He said funds permitting, WUC would in the next financial year 2021/2022 drill the sited points in both Qabo and Grootlaagte.

Mr Mzwinila said the water situation in both settlements would be addressed upon completion of borehole drilling during the 2021/2022 Financial Year.

Ghanzi North MP Mr John Thiite had asked the minister if he was aware of the recurring water crisis in Qabo and Grootlaagte . He also asked about the sustainable long term solution to address the crisis. ENDS