Central SA
North West residents without water after cable theft─── LUCKY NKUYANE 08:00 Wed, 28 Dec 2022
Residents of Christiana in the Bloemhof-based Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality in North West, have been left without water for several days.
The water entity, Magalies Water, has since blamed the taps running dry to cable theft.
Its spokesperson, David Magae, says the cable theft has since compromised the bulk water supply to the community of Christiana.
He says the aftermath of the criminal incident, wherein the theft of electrical cables supplying power to the raw water pump station intake left the community of Christiana inconvenienced and bearing the brunt of the unavailability of potable water in the region.
He says the stolen cable is not stocked material, and because it was not immediately available, it caused regrettable delays. Magae says these delays were further compounded by the closure of suppliers for the festive season break.
"However, through cooperation with the local municipality, the cable has been sourced and our technical teams are currently on site installing the cable.
"It is critical to indicate that this material by design does not have a shorter life span or prone to regular impairments.
"Due to the nature of the repair work, which has been undertaken, it is envisaged that completion for repairs will be concluded later this evening".
Magae adds that it is expected that operations will normalise thereafter.
"We sincerely apologise to the affected community due to this unforeseen incident and strongly encourage the community as a stakeholder to assist in ridding itself of criminal elements which cause unnecessary service interruptions, which have detrimental effects on the availability of water.
"We condemn with the strongest terms, this act of sabotage which has led to community members taking to the streets to express their anger.
"We encourage community members who may have information relating to this incident to report it to the law enforcement agencies for the full might of the law to take place.
"Any act of vandalism or damage to critical infrastructure, reverses all the gains of ensuring that communities continue to receive potable water as espoused in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Water Services Act (No.108 of 1997)," Magae further adds.
