The closure of LHWP leaves residents helpless

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – The Lesotho Highland Water Project (LHWP) closure went ahead as communicated by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), but affected residents expressed their insecurities regarding the availability of adequate water for this six-month shutdown.

The shutdown which was scheduled for 1 October has gone ahead as planned and residents have been advised to use water sparingly and not panic during this time. During the MEC of agriculture and rural development’s Elizabeth Rockman’s visit to Bethlehem over the weekend young farmers from Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) asked about how they will be assisted with water during this six-month closure.

Teboho Mokoena who is a poultry farmer and a resident of Bethlehem in Dihlabeng local municipality expressed that he would appreciate being assisted with a JoJo tank because as a farmer he will need enough water for his farming, because the LHWP shutdown is going to have a negative impact on his business as a farmer.

“Here in Dihlabeng it was communicated that there is going to be water cuts from the first of October up until March next year, and it is going to be tough on us farmers. That is why I ask for a JoJo tank because the JoJo will help me as a farmer,” Mokoena said.Tshepang Mokoena who is a farmer from Reitz, a town in Nketoana local municipality said that he can hear that these JoJo tanks sound like they could be the solution, but he does not think so.

“How do we fill these JoJo tanks with water that we do not have, our crops need clean water. Clean water helps the crops to grow well and to be healthy for our customers. I live in Reitz and here, there are a lot of boreholes in the area which are no longer working, but because I do not have water rights, I cannot pump water from these abandoned boreholes. When I go to the municipality, they tell me that they do not have water, what must I do?”

Teboho Mokoena a poultry farmer from Dihlabeng local municipality expressing concerns over the LHWP shutdown.

Mokoena said.According to Tshediso Maitse the communications manager from Dihlabeng local municipality the closure happened as per the plan which was communicated well in advance.

“This closure for maintenance reasons also happened five years ago in 2019, although for two months, many residents may not have been aware because there was no crisis. Residents need not panic; they just need to cooperate by heeding the call to use water sparingly; not to fill their pools; not to water their gardens during the day (6AM to 6PM) and attend to all leaks as soon as possible. The municipality will be closely monitoring the levels at the Saulspoort (Sol Plaatje) dam and will introduce water restrictions, when necessary,” Maitse said during an interview with The Guard.