03 Apr 2022

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration has told Parliament that there was a bowser truck under the Office of the President that was allocated a driver who operated it and was responsible for providing potable water to any place where there was need for consumption by  the President and his entourage including other assignments that the officer may be tasked with.

He indicated that from April 2020 to date, the driver had been paid P148 588.73 as overtime allowance.
Mr Kabo Morwaeng maintained  that the Public Service Act Section 31 is clear on the provision relating to payment of overtime allowance.

Mr Morwaeng explained that any person employed in the public service was entitled to be paid an overtime allowance where they worked extended hours and outside the normal working hours.
He went on to say, “As the sitting President, His Excellency’s welfare is the sole responsibility of government.
That includes provision of basic necessities such as water, food, security, transport, among others.

The Green Book under Section XI in particular Paragraph 48(5) provides that ‘all expenses relating to the domestic upkeep of the President including utilities shall be met from public funds,’” he said.

Government, he said, was therefore required to supply water and other amenities to the President for his upkeep and his security wherever he was, as part of his benefits provided for in the Green Book.
He added that the current status quo, however, did not warrant a borehole to be drilled for the President.
“Bowsing is a temporary measure to address water demand in the short term.

It must be understood that the provision of water is not fixed to the President’s farm or any other of his private property, but anywhere in the country and is provided by Water Utilities Corporation,” Mr Morwaeng said.

Again, he said the current system of bowsing water was, therefore, the most suitable, adding government could not drill a borehole on a privately owned land.
Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi, had asked the minister to state how much overtime had been paid to government drivers to bowse water to any of the President’s farms or property as well as the number of government vehicles and bowsing trucks or bowsers used for the task.

Mr Lesedi also wanted to know if bowsing formed part of the Presidential benefits and entitlements.
He further wanted to know why government did not consider drilling a borehole as opposed to regular bowsing looking at the long term costs in terms of time, money and the number of employees involved in the activity. ENDS