WUC discontinues pit latrine services

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday April 20, 2016 15:33

Last month WUC water works engineer, Taita Tlhabologang, briefing the community leadership of Francistown during a breakfast seminar, revealed that a decision has been taken for WUC to discontinue the services on April 1st this year. WUC is currently offering the service only in identified isolated unserviced pockets in the city. WUC then raised a concern that members of the public were not fully utilising the available infrastructure of sewer network but resort to using the pit latrines even in serviced areas. The corporation stated that this comes at a cost as they are forced to operate two parallel systems in one area.

During the seminar councillors pleaded with WUC for extension of time so that members of the community could be given enough time to come up with ways of sourcing funds to connect water system toilets in their homesteads.

Doing a follow up on the matter, Mmegi interviewed WUC’ s public relations officer here Mmoloki Ntesang who confirmed the stoppage of services by the corporation as they had stated last month.

“As we had briefed the city leadership last month, WUC no longer offer such services as stated. At the seminar we told them that the decision has already been taken regarding this matter,” said Ntesang.

City mayor Sylvia Muzila said as much as they appreciate these developments in the city, they had pleaded with the WUC not to discontinue their services but rather give members of the community time to come up with ways of sourcing money to connect water system toilets in their homes.

“Our pleas with WUC on this matter did not succeed as they (WUC) told us that the decision had already been taken and there was no turning back. This is going to affect the majority of people who are still using pit latrines because WUC no longer offer the services and will struggle when their toilets get full,” said Muzila stating that the majority of them could not afford services offered by private companies.

She added that the city leadership was against the use of pit latrines and have been encouraging members of the community to take SHHA loans for these developments for a while now. Muzila said as council they have resolved to invite the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Kitso Mokaila to address their pleas in their next full council meeting end of May.

She disclosed that the council has decided to assist destitutes who cannot afford to connect waterborne system toilets in their homes through the use of the mayor’s charity funds but the money could not cover all of them.

“We will be able to connect only 18 water system toilets therefore majority of the less privileged will suffer the consequences of these developments,” said Muzila.

The area councillor for Monarch West Godfrey Kaelo where the majority of his community still use pit latrines said he was not aware that WUC have not welcomed their pleas and people are currently using their pit latrines.

“This is going to have a huge impact on the lives of the people who are mostly unemployed and surviving on Ipelegeng as a source of employment. They are going to struggle to raise WUC’s connection fees of P1,500,” said the unhappy Kaelo. Councillor for Botsalano ward Zibanani Benfield shared the same sentiments with Kaelo that they had thought WUC would heed their pleas.

Benfield said she is frustrated because these developments will have a huge impact on the people who currently use pit latrines. “Majority of Kgaphamadi and Maipaafela residents are unemployed and will definitely struggle to raise funds to connect water system toilets to their homes in a short period of time,” she said.