Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has constructed a dedicated and bigger pipeline to Matebele village which is already supplying sufficient water, Kgatleng District Council Chairman Daneil Molokwe has said.
There is an ongoing project to supply Artesia and Leshibitse to Masama water supply complex which is planned to be completed in July 2024.
Molokwe said construction of a dedicated supply system to Tsope, Bollatshwene and Diponchi commenced in March 2023 and will complete in September 2023. According to Molokwe the system will include a booster station pumping, main elevated reservoir and distribution main.
Furthermore, an assessment was done to identify bottlenecks within the distribution system which inhibit adequate distribution of water, he said. He told the Kgatleng Full Council Meeting this week that such were identified in Mochudi at Mabodisa ward, Matebele and Modipane/Mokatse.
“To address the bottlenecks, projects to upgrade are planned for the coming financial year which will be undertaken by WUC in-house teams. There are areas in some villages which do not have reticulation network despite plot owners having already developed and residing in those areas.
"This is an inconvenience to the community and WUC is in consultation with relevant offices to resolve the matter. Another serious challenge is that water pipelines are prone to structural failure leading to numerous water leakages experienced in villages,” the council chairman said.
Molokwe stated that as a long-term solution, network optimisation and rehabilitation is planned to be undertaken in National Development Plan 12, subject to availability of funds. Still under NDP12, River villages are planned to be connected to Mmamashia water supply scheme as an alternative to supply from Madikwe dam.
According to Molokwe, regarding wastewater systems, Mochudi Service Centre was allocated P11. 2 million for rehabilitation of wastewater ponds this financial year. He revealed that the tender is expected to commence by July 2023.
“Operationally, the WUC experiences rampant vandalism of waste water pump stations which endangers the environment through pollution from resultant spillages. Security enhancements measures will be undertaken in the next financial year.
“Domestic debt also poses a serious challenge as it accounts for about 80 per cent of all debt which now stands at P43, 589, 905. 59. Households need to understand that the money owed to WUC is needed to undertake improvements on services and as such Councillors are implored to motivate water users to timely pay their bills.”
He stated that WUC recently opened a Customer Service at Oodi to bring services closer to the people. Molokwe said in the coming financial year, a similar arrangement will be made for Artesia and Sikwane Sub Clusters.
On the issue of budget, Molokwe said Kgatleng District Council’s budget for this financial year amounts to P171, 549, 767 following an adjustment of the RSG from P155, 723, 371 to P162, 164,147.
He said the adjustment was due to an omission of some budget items from the Ministry of Local Government when distributing RSGs between local Authorities.
Molokwe explained that as at 31st May 2023, expenditure was P28, 937, 220 against a target of P28, 591, 627.83.
He revealed that this implies that some votes are overspent but it should be noted that some votes were inadequately budgeted for in order to adhere to set ceilings. “These include votes such as lighting, water and gas, legal and technical advice and fuel and lubricants. The Council managed to collect own source income amounting to P657 08.08 against a target of P1, 564, 270 cost saving and control measures should be implemented in order to avoid a deficit at the end of the year and there is also need to strengthen collection strategies in order to raise enough income”, he told the meeting.
There is an ongoing project to supply Artesia and Leshibitse to Masama water supply complex which is planned to be completed in July 2024.
Molokwe said construction of a dedicated supply system to Tsope, Bollatshwene and Diponchi commenced in March 2023 and will complete in September 2023. According to Molokwe the system will include a booster station pumping, main elevated reservoir and distribution main.
Furthermore, an assessment was done to identify bottlenecks within the distribution system which inhibit adequate distribution of water, he said. He told the Kgatleng Full Council Meeting this week that such were identified in Mochudi at Mabodisa ward, Matebele and Modipane/Mokatse.
“To address the bottlenecks, projects to upgrade are planned for the coming financial year which will be undertaken by WUC in-house teams. There are areas in some villages which do not have reticulation network despite plot owners having already developed and residing in those areas.
"This is an inconvenience to the community and WUC is in consultation with relevant offices to resolve the matter. Another serious challenge is that water pipelines are prone to structural failure leading to numerous water leakages experienced in villages,” the council chairman said.
Molokwe stated that as a long-term solution, network optimisation and rehabilitation is planned to be undertaken in National Development Plan 12, subject to availability of funds. Still under NDP12, River villages are planned to be connected to Mmamashia water supply scheme as an alternative to supply from Madikwe dam.
According to Molokwe, regarding wastewater systems, Mochudi Service Centre was allocated P11. 2 million for rehabilitation of wastewater ponds this financial year. He revealed that the tender is expected to commence by July 2023.
“Operationally, the WUC experiences rampant vandalism of waste water pump stations which endangers the environment through pollution from resultant spillages. Security enhancements measures will be undertaken in the next financial year.
“Domestic debt also poses a serious challenge as it accounts for about 80 per cent of all debt which now stands at P43, 589, 905. 59. Households need to understand that the money owed to WUC is needed to undertake improvements on services and as such Councillors are implored to motivate water users to timely pay their bills.”
He stated that WUC recently opened a Customer Service at Oodi to bring services closer to the people. Molokwe said in the coming financial year, a similar arrangement will be made for Artesia and Sikwane Sub Clusters.
On the issue of budget, Molokwe said Kgatleng District Council’s budget for this financial year amounts to P171, 549, 767 following an adjustment of the RSG from P155, 723, 371 to P162, 164,147.
He said the adjustment was due to an omission of some budget items from the Ministry of Local Government when distributing RSGs between local Authorities.
Molokwe explained that as at 31st May 2023, expenditure was P28, 937, 220 against a target of P28, 591, 627.83.
He revealed that this implies that some votes are overspent but it should be noted that some votes were inadequately budgeted for in order to adhere to set ceilings. “These include votes such as lighting, water and gas, legal and technical advice and fuel and lubricants. The Council managed to collect own source income amounting to P657 08.08 against a target of P1, 564, 270 cost saving and control measures should be implemented in order to avoid a deficit at the end of the year and there is also need to strengthen collection strategies in order to raise enough income”, he told the meeting.
