08 Nov 2023

As per the Cabinet Memo for Privatisation of Drilling Services of August 1993, a decision was made by government to partially privatise drilling services, says the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs Dr Kefentse Mzwinila. 

He informed Parliament that  since the Water Sector Reforms, no machines or rigs were available to service the general public. 

“The only rig that is left with the department is meant to service the government boreholes while the provision of services for farmers is conducted by the private sector,” he said. 

He said subsequent to the 2008 Water Sector Reforms, his ministry through the then Department of Water Affairs currently Department of Water and Sanitation downsized the function of borehole cleaning and fishing and remained with one percussion cleaning and fishing rig and one pump test unit to service all government departments.

“Five rigs were transferred to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to carryout the function of borehole cleaning and fishing for water supply boreholes. 

There are no similar machines or rigs at the WUC. 

However, the corporation operates newer technology rotary air wigs for rehabilitation of their water supply boreholes,” he said.

 As part of the government drive to jump-start the economy pressured by the widening budget deficits caused by large expenditures against dwindling revenues, Dr Mzwinila said his ministry revised and implemented the use charge service fees from P4 362 to P11 000 beginning September 2020. 

Dr Mzwinila said the traditional borehole spacing rule that water points should be 6km apart had become the most effective management tool in communal rangelands. Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere had asked Dr Mzwinila to appraise the house on the Department of Borehole Cleaning and Fishing under Water Affairs which used to assist farmers with borehole cleaning services. 

He also asked the minister to state number of machines or rigs in the department to service Batswana, number of similar machines or wigs with WUC and why the cost of such services was increased from P2 000 to P10 000. 

The minister was also to state whether the ministry had experienced a decline in people asking for borehole cleaning services and to consider reducing the distance between boreholes from six to lesser kilometres to ensure more boreholes in one area. ENDS