President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the intentional destruction of water infrastructure for profit by companies hired to supply water during shortages, stating that "this must stop."
Ramaphosa stressed that the roaming water tankers were meant to be an intervention in the absence of water and not be treated as a business.
He condemned water mafias believed to be company owners to stop the water sabotage for them to gain control of the supply.
“They send the henchmen to go and cut the water lines and make sure that there is failure by the local authorities to deliver water, leading to the alternative of relying on them to transport because they make money out of transporting water,” he said.
“There’s no dignity for people to be standing alongside the streets just tapping water from a truck where somebody is making money from this. This must come to an end.”
His remarks come after communities in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and other provinces complained and took to the streets to protest against the water shortages.
Many said the water shortages were direct sabotage by those with water tankers so that they could make a profit off the water supply.
Ramaphosa was addressing the National Water and Sanitation Indaba at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng.
This crucial gathering highlights the government’s commitment to tackling South Africa’s water security challenges and ensuring reliable, sustainable water and sanitation services for all citizens.
The Indaba takes place during National Water Month and Human Rights Month, a significant period that underpins the importance of water as a fundamental human right and a critical resource for socio-economic development.
In his keynote address, Ramaphosa commended the Water Department for its ongoing efforts to improve water and sanitation access in our country.
This includes progress towards meeting the minimum standards for the provision of water and sanitation services, and in addressing connection backlogs.
Meanwhile, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero mentioned that his city does not have water challenges, but water leaks in the infrastructure.
He said the city was hard at work to fix the leaks so that people could receive their daily water.
This is despite the some communities in the area are experiencing water shortages due to pipe bursts and leaks.
IOL Politics