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The Democratic Alliance in eThekwini has requested eThekwini Municipality management to investigate and account for the theft of copper pipes from Tongaat water works.

It is alleged that criminals broke into the Tongaat Water Works by cutting through the steel fence. This cut off the water supply to the chemical dosing system in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

This incident occurred exactly one year to the day after the same facility was flooded in April 2022, which destroyed the majority of the plant.

The facility, which cost close to R40 million to repair, appears to have a security team that is either inept or careless.

The DA asked EWS management to investigate why on-site security was unable to detect or intercept the break-in.

While a suspect in possession of copper pipes has been arrested in a nearby Suburb in close proximity to the plant, the damage has already been done, and despite repeated calls for increased security at all national key points, very little progress has been made.

Although teams have managed to bring the Tongaat Water Works back online, many areas will experience outages as the system recovers.

The DA will ensure that water tankers are dispatched to assist residents in the affected areas.

Issued by Councillor Yogis Govender - DA eThekwini executive committee member