12 Jan 2022

Bobonong Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) office will from January 18, disconnect all consumers who owe the corporation.

Speaking during Member of Parliament Mr Taolo Lucas’ kgotla meeting Tuesday, WUC customer consultant Mr Elfas Mphela said that the utilities corporation would disconnect customers who went for more than 90 days without settling their debts.

He said that although it was the corporation’s responsibility to keep water flowing into homes, it had decided to ‘encourage’ customers to settle their debt by disconnecting their services.

Mr Mphela revealed that nationally, the corporation was owed P1.8 billion in water bills. In Francistown/Selebi-Phikwe management region WUC is owed over P2 million, according to Mr Mphela.

Initially, the disconnections were to effect beginning of January, but were delayed.

When the disconnections finally effect, Mr Mphela promised that WUC would forewarn customers of the impending action and appeal to them to settle their bills and avert disconnection.

WUC connected all customers during the State of Public Emergency because the situation put emphasis on good hygiene, particularly regular washing of hands.

On other water related issues, Mr Mphela advised those outside the WUC supply map to group themselves and contribute finances towards connections.

He said there was a standard connection fee of P1 650 and an additional P30 charged for every metre beyond the set 200m distance.

Mr Mphela promised that WUC experts would test water from Lepokole tanks to check its suitability for drinking as per customers’ complaints.

The customer consultant informed residents that water was charged post consumption and that the corporation was working hard to charge customers every month to avoid them having to pay hefty bills.  Where readings were taken after more than 30 days the corporation would do some adjustments so that charges would not strain consumers, Mr Mphela said. Ends