Programme director
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Boitumelo Tshwene
Executive Mayor of Ngaka-Modiri District Municipality, Ms Pinkie Mokoto
Executive Mayor of Ramotshere Local Municipality, Mr Moji Peter Pilane
Executive Mayor of Ratlou Local Municipality, Councillors K Francisco Ntwe
Councillors
Magosi a leng teng fano
Leaders of Water Boards
Departmental and other government officials
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Members of the community
Ladies and gentlemen
I am gratified by the warm welcome from the local leaders and the community of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.
The Department of Water Affairs recently held the National Water Week from 21 to 27 March.
South Africa is a water scarce country, like many other countries in Africa, we are faced with a huge challenge that is likely to become a future threat if our water resources are not well managed, protected, used, conserved and developed in a sustainable manner.
We are aware of the water provision challenges faced by Ratlou and Ramotshere Moiloa areas. These two local municipalities are amongst the driest areas in the province and they are dependent on ground water.
It is for this reason that we held a stakeholder engagement meeting together with the North West Premier, Mme Thandi Modise, in Mafikeng, whereby after detailed deliberations, an action plan had to be developed to address water provisioning challenges in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, with special reference to Ratlou and Ramotshere Local Municipalities. An Intergovernmental Task Team which comprises officials from the national, provincial and local government was also established to ensure the implementation of the Action Plan.
Today’s visit forms part of my Public Participation Programme, which seeks to promote direct interaction between government and the community. It also give us an opportunity to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting your community and allows a two way information flow. This morning I visited the Thutlwane Water Scheme here in Ratlou Local Municipality.
This three boreholes project will be an upgrade of the existing system of water supply of Setlagole including Thutlwane and Setlhwatlhwe villages. The boreholes are supplying a population of 22 835 people. This means that the basic level of service is to provide each person with 25 litres of water per day within the radial distance of 200 metres from each household.
The Department of Water Affairs supported Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality to conduct a feasibility study which recommended the exploration of groundwater around Delareyville. The District Municipality is finalising the appointment of a Geohydrologist to site potential boreholes in Delareyville to augment bulk water supply to the value of R2 million. The Trans Caledon Transfer Authority has also been brought on board to assist with this borehole exploration and R3 million has been set aside to provide technical support in the drilling of boreholes and equipping them. The process of consultation has commenced.
Botshelo Water has also started a project that would realise three windmills for livestock watering in Kraaipan village to the value of R200 000. The department is further engaging with the Department of Agriculture to partner with them and find areas of collaboration in addressing the issues of live stock watering in the province.
Despite numerous awareness campaigns about water conservation, high water loss remains a challenge. According to the National Water Act no.36 of 1998, it is everyone’s constitutional right to have access to clean drinking water but we must understand that these rights goes hand in hand with individual responsibility to protect, conserve and save water.
- stop damaging water pipes in your community
- report burst or leaking pipes to the municipality
- report illegal water connection to the municipality
Water is life, without water there is no life.
As government we will not rest until every citizen has access to clean drinking water.
Thank you.
Source: Department of Water Affairs
