The so-called ‘water mafia’ are putting vulnerable communities at the mercy of these syndicates, which is something that simply cannot stand, says civil rights organisation AfriForum.
For years, the water mafia has been collecting millions from municipalities by deliberately damaging infrastructure so that contractors have to be appointed to supply water to communities. With the help of corrupt municipal officials, these profitable contracts are often awarded to the water mafia – who do not hesitate to supply poor quality water to communities, AfriForum said in a statement.
“While the government fails to take concrete steps to protect essential infrastructure from vandals, AfriForum and its security network have already made progress in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to face this problem. In recent years, the civil rights organisation has helped the metro, which spends R450 million annually on water tankers due to failing infrastructure, to install security cameras at reservoirs to protect this much-needed infrastructure from vandals. With the help of the cameras, many suspected vandals have already been arrested.”
“If the more than R2 billion spent on water tankers in Gauteng over the past five years had been used to repair infrastructure and safeguard it against sabotage, it would have benefited many more people than the short-term solution that water tankers provided. Moreover, it would not have funded a criminal syndicate, which is currently forcing the country’s water sector to its knees,” said Lambert de Klerk, Manager for Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.
“It’s clear that without the necessary intervention the situation will continue to deteriorate, therefore AfriForum calls on the Department of Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), to implement strict regulations and approval processes for independent water services, such as water tankers,” AfriForum stated.
“By allowing approved companies to supply water to communities, the government can eradicate the corrupt practices endemic to this sector. This is an important step to ensure that water supply is managed in a fair and sustainable way,” said De Klerk.
AfriForum added that it is ready to play a constructive role in facing this crisis. AfriForum can help municipalities to identify and repair leaks within the system, reduce water losses and ensure that available resources are used effectively. AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches can also offer an additional source of protection in the fight against vandals.
“AfriForum want to work with communities, the private sector and government to come up with sustainable solutions to improve water supply and ensure water security. By joining forces, we can loosen the water mafia’s grip on the water sector,” said De Klerk.
