Deputy Minister Magadzi urges Kraaifontein's community to safeguard infrastructure
Today 06 October 2022 the effort to curb vandalism of infrastructure was given a boost when the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Ms Dikeledi Magadzi visited and engaged the community of Kraaifontein in Cape Town.
Earlier this year the National Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Cape Town launched the anti-vandalism campaign to raise public awareness about the impact that the theft and vandalism of water and sanitation infrastructure has on essential services to communities. The campaign also aims to highlight the valuable role all stakeholders, including spheres of government and the public, must play to protect this critical infrastructure.
Ntsikelelo Luthuli, manager of Wallacedene Pump Station, said vandalism of infrastructure causes losses in revenue. "The pump station of Wallacedene has to be fenced at a cost of 1.5 million". Due to the electric cable theft that happens from time to time, the temporary operation costs using generators at the pump station amount to R1 million per month”’ says Luthuli.
In her address to the community at Bloekombos Primary School Hall, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Dikeledi Magadzi said depositing foreign objects like stones, tyres, and other solid waste damages the infrastructure and costs the municipalities resources that would otherwise be utilised elsewhere.
“Vandalism of basic services has deprived communities of basic services, which is deeply concerning to the department”, Magadzi said. To further combat vandalism, Government urges communities to report incidents of vandalism to police and other law enforcement agencies.
“Water is Life, Sanitation is Dignity”
For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942
