14 Jul 2025

Proposals will be submitted under the National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12) to facilitate the rehabilitation of portable water infrastructure in both Mogoditshane and Mmopane.

Answering a question in Parliament, the Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi said subject to approval and funding, the initiative would extend water services to currently unserved areas, including Mogoditshane Block 10 to address water supply challenges.

He said the newly developed areas within Block 10 remained without a formal water reticulation system and was presently served by two prepaid public standpipes.

Furthermore, Mr Ramogapi acknowledged that the existing two standpipes were insufficient to adequately meet the water needs of the area.

He also said some members of the community, who tried to bypass the standpipes mechanism to avoid payments, thereby subjecting the public standpipes to vandalism, exacerbated the problem.

Mr Ramogapi said such acts of vandalism led to prolonged service disruptions and financial loses as Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) must procure replacement parts and carry out necessary repairs.

However, as an interim measure, he said WUC had initiated the installation of two additional prepaid standpipes in the area, noting that work was underway and expected to be completed by mid-August 2025.

Mmopane/Metsimotlhabe MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng had asked the minister if he was aware that Mogoditshane Block 10 residents shared two standpipes within the ward, which sometimes went dry for days subjecting residents to water wooes.

She also wanted to know when the ministry would consider connecting homesteads to the water pipeline. ENDS