Theft of expensive and essential water infrastructure in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) and surrounds has compelled the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) to beef up their security.

VDM’s municipal manager, Mr Masala Makumule, announced that 60 posts for security officers, three of whom are for senior security officers, were created for the whole of Vhembe. The senior security officers will do an inspection in loco and will post security officers at critical places or hotspots where infrastructure gets stolen.  “Four security officers will definitely be employed at the Albasini water scheme,” Mr Makumule said.

There have been many outcries about the lack of security, by the community at large as well as several associations, such as AfriForum and the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association, after the theft of water pumps and cables at the boreholes west of the town. This important infrastructure was replaced at a cost of R2.4million in December 2011 and was stolen again in January 2012, which resulted in the worsening of the town’s already dire water situation.

The announcement that the security situation had received the much-needed attention was made at a meeting between VDM officials and the AFriForum Louis Trichardt branch on 14 July. Local AfriForum chairperson Wally Schultz welcomed the security upgrading. “Our new expensive pump at Albasini must be secured at all costs,” Schultz said. The pump was installed at a cost of more than R620 000 in June this year and had a positive effect on the water supply from the Albasini. Schultz was also the one who insisted that police dockets be opened for the stolen borehole pumps.

In the meantime, five water meters were stolen in the new extension of Eltivillas on the evening of 11 July.  The cost of replacing one meter is more than R2 000. Two of the five meters were replaced immediately, while orders for spares were placed for the replacement of the other three meters. The VDM delegation, under leadership of VDM’s Makhado water superintendent, Mr David Mukosi, showed the Zoutpansberger some of the places where the meters were stolen or replaced, as well as a sixth meter that was removed but not reported to the municipality.

Mr Daniel Tshoteli, municipal plumber, went to open a docket on the five stolen water meters at the Makhado SAPS on 12 July. He was, however, turned away, since “the municipality cannot open a docket, only an individual”. On 15 July, Mr Mukosi and the Zoutpansberger accompanied Mr Tshoteli to the police station where the police officer on duty, a female officer with the nametag Nkumeleni, opened the docket without any problems. Lt Col Rambau, acting station commander, was asked why the docket could not be opened the previous time and to disclose the progress of the investigation on the theft cases of the borehole pumps worth R2.4million. “I am not allowed to speak to the media. WO Madzhigili will be back tomorrow and he will answer all your questions,” Col Rambau told the Zoutpansberger.

On Tuesday, WO Lucas Madzhigili was, however,  still on leave and, among other things, told the Zoutpansberger that he supposed that the municipal official had not agreed to open the docket in his own name and that the newspaper must go and look for news elsewhere. Before the case number of the stolen water pump could be given, he slammed the phone down.

The Zoutpansberger ascertained from a senior police official in the province that there was no restriction on the station commander or the second in command to speak to the media. “The conduct and the progress in the cases will be investigated,” said Col Ronel Otto, provincial police spokesperson.