SPTC To Phase- Out Pit Latrines By December

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday May 31, 2010 00:00

Speaking during the full council meeting held last week, Mayor, Lekang Mukokomani said the construction of sewer lines and pump stations in different parts of Selebi-Phikwe have been completed and the project was handed over to the council in April. He mentioned that they have achieved the 100 percent access to water borne sewerage system except a few areas which were omitted from the original design which are in Sesame and Ikageleng wards.

'Reticulation is however currently being extended to these areas under the additional works which are funded through the savings realised from the major project. These additional works also include the upgrading of old sewer lines which were discovered to be operating beyond their capacity,' said Mukokomani.

He said the main concern that his council has is the low rate that residents are connecting at, adding that they could have attained full coverage in terms of access upon the completion of the project. He also mentioned that there is no change in the residents' attitude towards connection despite the connection fee being as low as P60. He noted that if the situation does not change for the better, SPTC's plan to phase out pit latrines by the end of December will not bear fruit. The mayor also pleaded with the residents to connect their sanitary facilities to the main sewer line. He said switching to the water-borne sewerage system will save the town from polluting the environment. Mukokomani revealed that unauthorised connections have been detected during the construction of the newly completed sewer lines.

'This is illegal and people involved in these illegal acts should stop with immediate effect or face the wrath of the law,' he warned. He advised the perpetrators to come out and pay for the service to enable the council to regularise the connections. He said the local authority is also concerned about the continual dumping of debris into the storm water drainage systems. He called upon the councillors to plead with the electorate to desist from dumping any form waste in the drains as this may culminate in flooding. SPTC public relations officer, Ogomoditse Gaokgethelwe explained to The Monitor that the project has cost the local authority P64 Million. She said the project covered the lining of ponds and five pump stations. She also shared the same sentiment with the mayor about people who have illegally connected to the sewer line because the pump stations have been receiving waste. Gaokgethelwe said the project started in October 2008.

Meanwhile, some residents have said it is difficult for them to connect to the sewer line due to lack of money. Sechaba Ntaleu of New Stance Location said the majority of residents in this location are unemployed and it is hard for them to find the P60 needed by the council for connection. He stated that the council must come up with means that could assist them or else the town fathers' plan of phasing out pit latrines is only a dream that will never come true.