The Bronkhorstspruit water infrastructure is constantly being vandalised, according to a warning from the City of Tshwane, endangering the entire region.
This comes after the renovated water infrastructure at the Bronkhorstspruit Raw Water Pump Station was vandalised.
The installation of the rebuilt raw water pump equipment by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) at the Bronkhorstspruit Pump Station will improve the flow of water into the water treatment facilities from the river.
With the help of the pump, the City will be able to provide the supply area from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works at a higher capacity.
Daryl Johnston, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Utilities and Regional Operations, claimed that while the installation of the water pump was underway, thieves broke into the station without authorization and stole cables from a particular control panel in the sub-station, impeding the commissioning of the pump and delaying the delivery of water to customers.
“Unfortunately, only the cables of the specific control panel related with the renovated water pump were stolen,” said Johnston.
“This appears very likely to be deliberate sabotage of the running of the facility.”
Johnston has denounced the vandalism and warned that it has a severe impact on people who lack access to water and businesses that depend on it to function.
“This kind of infrastructure degradation is an ongoing battle against the City’s capacity to offer and enhance services to Tshwane citizens.
In order to reinforce our efforts to protect our infrastructure, I am collaborating with law enforcement and the City’s Infrastructure Protection Unit, Johnston stated. –