Few cases of theft and vandalism of water and wastewater treatment works are reported by municipalities or to the South African Police Service and many of these plants in the Free State and in other parts of South Africa are currently dilapidated owing to vandalism, the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation said on November 23.
"Given the current scourge of vandalism targeting water and sanitation infrastructure, serious steps have to be considered. It remains a challenge to understand the logic of vandalising infrastructure that is put in place to benefit the community," the department said.
"Criminals target [this infrastructure] especially when load-shedding is taking place. This infrastructure is also targeted when they are shut down for repairs. Pumps, copper cables and even bricks and roofing is normally stolen and it costs government millions to repair.
"With the sometimes long processes it takes to implement repairs, the community is left without water or flushing toilets for an extended time. The stolen equipment and components cost millions of rands, but are sold for much less by criminals looking to make money quickly."
Municipalities need to start budgeting to ensure the safety of infrastructure, as more money is lost if there are no security measures in place. A hybrid solar-electricity alarm system with beams could be used, the provincial department suggested.
It stressed that government could not keep pouring endless amounts of money into establishing and refurbishing infrastructure that should be able to carry communities for decades.