21 Aug 2025

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), Kanye Service Centre is choking with a close to P58 million domestic water debt. 

 The centre covers Kanye, Moshupa, Jwaneng, Mabutsane and their catchment areas. Speaking at the stakeholder engagement in Jwaneng on August 20, the general manager, Mr Monametsi Ramosu said domestic customers’ debt amounted to P33 million, followed by government with P13 million, businesses at P6 million and P5.8 million for local authorities. Mr Ramosu said efforts to recover debt included revised tariffs, which commenced in April, as well as the just-ended debt amnesty.

“The debt amnesty was intended to encourage customers to pay their bills in order for the corporation to continue providing and improving services. Even though a lot of people benefited from this initiative, there are still calls to re-do it,” he said.

He appealed to stakeholders to encourage the community to conserve water and pay their water bills on time to avoid disruption of service. He urged them to visit the nearest offices for clarity on the billing system and any queries related to water consumption.

“As community leaders you are our strategic partners in mobilising the communities to pay their bills and also conserve water at all times,” he noted.

While he acknowledged water shortage in some areas, Mr Ramosu said WUC were concerned about mismanagement and use of domestic water for farming purposes. Regarding waste water services, he said blockages and old infrastructure were some of the factors hindering effective waste water works in the area.

Mr Ramosu noted that WUC was currently undertaking two projects intended to improve waste water services, to cater for the growing demand experienced particularly around Jwaneng/Sese areas. He however noted that the long term plan was to have a Jwaneng Water Master Plan to address the challenges.

WUC Lead Engineer for the Jwaneng Cluster, Mr Kagiso Lobeko cited declining borehole yields, illegal connections, vandalism and cable theft, old infrastructure and pipe blockages by lime as some of the challenges experienced in the area. Mr Lobeko said the cluster covered nine villages with close to 50 boreholes.  He said the waste water infrastructure was old and not properly designed, resulting in inefficient service delivery. 

“The Jwaneng waste water network was built in 1982 and it has a total of 61 pump stations, which is a big number for a small area like this one,” he said. ENDS