09 Dec 2024

Ministry of Water and Human Settlement is aware of halting of the construction of a transmission main water supply to Shoshong from the ongoing construction of the 20-million-liter (ML) water tank at Mahalapye. 

Minister Onneetse Ramogapi told Parliament on Thursday that the new 23km pipeline from the 20ML reservoir was intended to connect Tswapong South cluster villages and Shoshong cluster villages bypassing Mahalapye network which they were supplied from. 

He said the project was delayed due to insufficient funds though the technical works of the 23km pipeline had commenced and construction works would start after securing additional funding. The minister further said the construction of the pipeline was planned for four months commencing in the financial year 2025/2026. He said the ministry was also aware of water challenges in the villages of Bonwapitse, Shoshong, Mmutlane and Kalamare. 

“These are supplied by the Shoshong corridor pipeline attributed mainly by limited water supply from the Mahalapye Water Treatment Works (MWTW). Though MTTW is capable of producing 34 million liters per day (MLD) the booster station from the treatment works can deliver 13MLD against a water demand of 15.33MLD which leads to a deficit of 2.1MLD. 

Therefore, he said this translated to water rationing between Tswapong South villages and Shoshong corridor villages. Another contributor is the continuous electrical power outages along North South carrier pipeline infrastructure,” explained Minister Ramogapi. He said interventions to improve water supply included rationing between Shoshong corridor villages and Tswapong South villages together with bowsing on daily basis to supplement the shortfalls. 

Long term solution is to construct 20 MLD ground concrete tank with a new pump station which is ongoing and is at 86 per cent together with a dedicated line to supply Shoshong corridor and Tswapong villages, separating them from the Mahalapye distributing lines, Minister Ramogapi said. Tobela was currently being water bowser as borehole water was saline hence the need to bowse, to either blend the water or supply only bowsed water from Mahalapye treatment plant, while long term solution was to inter connect Tobela to Shoshong, to be supplied with water from North South Water Carrier. 

The minister said water supply challenges in Mosolotshane, Kodibeleng, Ikongwe and Moralane,   were mainly attributed to borehole engine breakdowns and were mainly bowsed during such cases. 

The MP for Shoshong, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang had asked the minister, if he was aware of the halting of construction of a transmission main water supply to Shoshong from the ongoing construction of the 20 ML water tank at Mahalapye and if so, what plans were in place to resume such and when because currently Shoshong village was faced with water shortage due to rationing between Tswapong and Mahalapye villages. 

He also wanted the minister to update Parliament on  the state of rampant water shortages in Kalamare, Mosolatshene, Kodibeleng, Mmutlane, Bonwapitse and Tobela and the proposed remedial actions as this had been ongoing since July 2024. Ends