Pretoria - Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday said some business people – who had previously had contracts to supply water to impoverished communities in South Africa – were now targeting government’s infrastructure in a bid to get the water supply business back.
The department of human settlements, water and sanitation said it has received information that in Bodibe, Lichtenburg, in North Wes,t some of the business people emptied out new water tankers that were supplied by government, to ensure that the lucrative business was given to them.
“Vandalism is an act of sabotage. I am happy that in the North West this matter has been reported to the police. The law must take its course against those who have decided to sabotage our installations for profiteering,” Sisulu warned.
“Since [the department] centralised the process of delivering water to communities, we have done exceedingly well. It has become abundantly clear that some people who felt that they should have profited are now sabotaging the process. We call on residents to protect the tanks that have been installed in their communities.”
Sisulu said government’s current initiative to curb the spread of coronavirus through supplying water to water distressed communities across South Africa has faced obstruction and sabotage in parts of the country.
The department of health on Wednesday revealed that the number of Covid-19 fatalities in South Africa has risen by seven, bringing the local death toll in the global pandemic to 34, while the confirmed infections has risen to 2,506.
The department of health said it was "saddened to report" the increase in Covid-19 related deaths, and confirmed that six of these occurred in KwaZulu-Natal. One death related to the novel coronavirus was recorded in Gauteng.
The number of tests conducted for Covid-19 now stood at 90,515, the government said.