Polokwane water and electricity infrastructure under attack, tension between mayor and the university
POLOKWANE executive mayor, John Mpe, has sounded an alarm on disturbing surge in theft, vandalism and deliberate acts of sabotage targeting water and electricity infrastructure essential for the city’s economic growth.
What were once isolated incidents of theft and vandalism, now coupled with sabotage, have escalated to a debilitating menace that deeply affects negatively the daily lives of residents who are frequently left with no water and electricity.
The recent rolling water and electricity cuts may have been exacerbated by rains and strong winds, according to Mpe, but acts of deliberate sabotage were worrying.
On Wednesday, Mpe told the media about how an inlet from Seshego Dam, which supplies the local water treatment plant, was found deliberately obstructed with rocks, bricks and other debris blocking the flow of water to the plant.
The plant came into operation in May this year, supplying Seshego and surrounding areas with 10 megalitres per day, thereby helping to reduce the water deficit in the greater Polokwane area.
In another act of sabotage, valves on the Dap Naude pipeline, which feeds the Dalmada water treatment plant, were found to have been deliberately closed.
The all-important Ebenezer and Olifantspoort Bulk Water Schemes managed by Lepelle Northern Water were also not spared. The power line to the Ebenezer scheme was cut off 11 times since 21 October this year.
The Monday’s storms worsened the situation, with pump station 3 at Olifantspoort scheme closed causing extensive outages that left many areas without water. However, operations have since been restored.
“It is important to note that these recurring acts of theft and vandalism are setting back our progress. Even traffic lights are becoming targets, causing us to appeal to residents to support us in safeguarding our infrastructure.
“The acts of tampering with our water infrastructure have caused avoidable hardship, disrupting not only daily life, but also impacting critical institutions like hospitals and schools,” Mpe said.
However, he spoke of the municipality’s interventions to ease the negative effects on residents. He said law enforcement agencies have been roped in to investigate the acts of sabotage.
The water cuts have now created tension between the municipality and the University of Limpopo in Mankweng. The university has decided to postpone the examinations due to water shortages.
Its spokesperson, Victor Kgomoeswana, reportedly said the current conditions at the campus due to water shortage were unhygienic and unacceptable for examinations to go ahead. They have been postponed until November 4.
But Mpe took a swipe at the university’s management, saying it has “acted out character”. He believed the decision was also motivated by politics as students were allegedly mobilised to stage a march in the city.
Mpe said the university rejected the municipality’s offer to deliver water to the institution’s storages under the pretext that the trucks’ safety could not be guaranteed.
“The vice-chancellor has my contacts. He has never called me, he has never called anyone. We work very closely with the university and we want ask the vice-chancellor not to enter into politics. We will deal with politics,” he said.