UThukela District Municipality

ANOTHER WATER PLANT HAS BEEN TARGETED BY VANDALISM

28 October 2020

Another break-in has been reported in one of our plants in Bergville area under Okhahlamba local municipality. This time around it is the Dukuza-Mnweni package plant that was broken into a few days ago where cables and electric panels were removed as well as extension and grinders stolen. This is the third burglary to take place in a space of few weeks after two other plants in Bhekuzulu and Loskop areas under Inkosi Langalibalele municipality were broken into and vandalized.

Assessing the damage at the plant this morning, Uthukela District Mayor Cllr AS Mazibuko was taken aback by the latest incident of vandalism of infrastructure. He strongly suspected that conspiracy theory was behind all this. It is very disappointing and discouraging to see such a mishap. We as the municipality are busy trying to build infrastructure for the benefit of our people yet there are some elements of criminality who are determined to take us a foot back, said the Mayor.

A case of theft was opened at the Upper Tugela police station. Police have taken statements from individuals and some were taken in for questioning. Damage at the plant is estimated at the region of half a million rands in cost. How long shall this kind of behavior last, can remain in but our wildest guess. The municipality urges anyone with information to come forward and assist the police to apprehend the suspects.