A Consultant developing the Water Sector Country Profile for African Development Bank (AfDB), Professor Bancy Mati met with WASCO leadership on Monday the 29th July 2024. The intention of the visit was to gain deeper insights into WASCO and its operations.
During the meeting, the Chairman of the board Mr. Thabo Stephen Monyamane shared that upon arrival in February 2024, the new Board of Directors engaged an expert to undertake a dip stick analysis of WASCO performance.
Mr. Monyamane said amongst the findings of the analysis lack of leadership was top of the drawer due to several managerial positions being vacant. He indicated that the Board had since put in place a caretaker Chief Executive, reorganised executive roles and started a recruitment for all vacant executive management positions with a view to complete the process by 1st September 2024.
Other challenges the Board Chair presented before the Consultant are high Non-Revenue Water, aged infrastructure that requires replacement, authorised unbilled consumption along the Metolong pipeline and illegal connections to mention a few. He however said there is a Non-Revenue Water Reduction Strategy being executed and he hoped for positive results.
In conclusion, Mr Monyamane stated that WASCO has an obligation to achieve Operational Excellence through Digital Transformation. He thus said the Company has initiated the process of engaging several service providers to advise on steps regarding the digitilisation of its operations and assets. He underlined that once a clear picture of the roadmap to digitilisation is complete then WASCO will develop a funding strategy. Other critical areas of development include enhancement of financial sustainability, promotion of environment stewardship and sustainable practises, human capital development and development of superior customer experience.
