As most of the areas in Bokone Bophirima continue to be ravaged by drought, the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements continues to put measures in place to ensure that the residents in drought stricken areas are not adversely affected.
Through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, the department has co-ordinated critical departments such Rural Environment and Agricultural Development, Water and Sanitation, Rural Development and Land Reform and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to provide short term solutions whilst working on find a lasting solution to the drought situation in the province. Portable water and fodder as been provided to communities and their livestock in affected areas.
To date, a total of 25 water tankers with a capacity of 18 000 litres have been allocated to the province and they have been distributed in Tswaing, Ramotshere Moiloa, Ratlou, Mahikeng, Kgetleng Rivier, Moses Kotane, Ventersdorp and Mamusa local municipalities. Other municipalities that are mostly affected are: Greater Taung, Mamusa, Kagisano-Molopo, Ratlou, Ramotshere Moiloa, Ditsobotla and Kgetleng-Rivier local municipalities. To date, 39 000 cases of livestock mortality have been reported in the province since beginning of the year.
The MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe cites dilapidated municipal water infrastructure causing water leakages, environmental pollution from raw sewer discharge due to poor maintenance in Kgetleng rivier, Ramotshere Moiloa, Mahikeng and Ditsobotla local municipalities as some of the reasons that have aggravated the drought situation.
‘We have since requested municipalities to impose strict water restrictions and to focus on their 2016/17 Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding to address water shortages in affected areas” remarked MEC Gaolaolwe.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole (Departmental Spokesperson)
Cell: 071 566 1399
Email: MSBole@nwpg.gov.za
Facebook: dlghs
Twitter: @nw_lghs
Instagram: NWLGHS
