Cllrs attack WUC for shoddy service

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Friday May 24, 2013 00:00

In a full council meeting yesterday,, councillors said since WUC took over from the Department of Water Affairs, water services have become poor.Councillor Tabengwa Tabengwa of Ikageleng complained that after WUC took over, water bills are delayed and customers end up paying exorbitantly.  'When you go and check the bills, you'll be told that you do not owe anything, but after two months you will receive a large bill. Some people are forced to pay large bills because after WUC took over, bills come after a long time, ' he said. He complained that the corporation does not quickly attend to water leakages, leading to unnecessary wastage. He asked if WUC does not have employees working on standby to attend to such emergencies. Tabengwa said even the sewage lines crossing streets were not properly laid out such and put people's lives at risk, especially motorists. 'People are complaining about pit latrines that take too long to be drained. It takes months, even up to a year  waiting, and they end up using a lot of money seeking services from private companies, ' said Tabengwa.

Councillor Stanley Masalila of Tatitown pleaded with WUC to consider installing prepaid metres in all standpipes in the city so residents may have easier access to water. 'Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has left you behind. Do something as we no longer want to queue  up paying water bills, ' said Masalila.Councillor Raoboy Mpuang of Monarch East said sewage lines at Monarch were connected last year but he is surprised that they have started leaking.

'This is a concern to the community. We cannot wait for your authorisation while we have a problem. These pipes are not monitored. It takes a long time for them to be attended to once they have broken down, ' said Mpuang.Kays Phitshana of Ipopeng said residents in his ward have been complaining of bad smells from the sewage house since last year and they are now sick because of the stench.

'Kgapamadi and Maipaafela have a huge problem of the sewage house emitting a bad smell. You cannot eat with the bad smell it produces. Most residents now have health problems due to this smell,' said Phitshana.Meanwhile, WUC's Acting GM Gilbert Matome told councillors that they are currently working hard  to provide the nation with good quality service. Matome said they are facing a huge challenge in high-density areas like Blue Town, Kgaphamadi and Monarch caused by blockages and manhole lids which get stolen. 'Vandals break and steal them to sell at scrap yards. Consequently, the corporation spends a lot of money buying them again,' he said. 'We know about the sewage house issue and are currently dealing with it to see if those people staying near can be moved away from it, ' said Matomereagarding the pump station.

He emphasised that they would soon  remove old pipes and connect new ones and that they would attend to reports because WUC employees were working around the clock to stabilise the situation.