Criminal syndicates destroy water infrastructure in desperate communities

John Maytham speaks to Robert Mashego, Parliamentary Portfolio Chair for Water and Sanitation.

Listen to the interview in the audio below.

In poor communities in KZN, criminal syndicates are threatening the little water supply those living there have.

Mashego says tanker suppliers believe it is their right to supply water and believe municipalities should not have this right.

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These groups deliberately sabotage municipal water supply to force the community to boost their businesses and force the community to get water through them.

When the infrastructure is repaired, they immediately damage it again for their own gain.

“They are starting to defend their trucks by not allowing municipality employees to repair damaged pipes in order for people to access water.”

- Robert Mashego, Parliamentary Portfolio Chair for Water and Sanitation

KwaZulu Natal is the hotspot for this type of crime, but it has been spotted in other provinces.

“In South Africa as a whole, it is becoming a big phenomenon.”

- Robert Mashego, Parliamentary Portfolio Chair for Water and Sanitation

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.