WATER MAFIA RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER WOES IN THE COUNTRY
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has admitted that millions of rands intended for municipal water infrastructure projects have been wasted due to incomplete work, attributing much of the problem to organized criminal groups she described as the “water tanker mafia.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC National Executive Committee meeting, Majodina explained that these syndicates extort contractors, sabotage pipelines, and disrupt municipal projects, particularly in the North West.
She warned that these disruptions force communities to rely on private water tankers, often controlled by the same criminal networks.
“Municipalities are unable to fill reservoirs because of these challenges,” Majodina said, noting that her department is reclaiming unspent funds and deploying agents to oversee project completion an intervention that could increase costs.
The minister’s remarks come amid a worsening national water crisis, with residents in North West, Johannesburg and other areas experiencing extended outages and public protests over inconsistent access to clean water.
Majodina emphasized that while systemic issues like leaks, illegal connections, and high demand contribute to the problem, organized crime remains a key driver.
The Water and Sanitation Department is coordinating with the South African Police Service to tackle these criminal networks and restore project integrity.
