A 50-year-old police lieutenant attached to the Waterval SAPS appeared in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday. He is accused of stealing water tanks at Mashau.

Eight water tanks and two water pumps were allegedly found at the lieutenant's home. The tanks were allegedly stolen in the Mashau area when heavy rain prohibited people from returning to their houses. One big water tank was stolen from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Mashau.

Mani Thenga (30), appeared in the Vuwani Magistrate's Court on Monday and his case was postponed to the 5 November for a bail application. He was released without bail.

Community members were called to identify their tanks at the Levubu Police Station last week. Elisa Siaga of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church said they had identified their 2 500 litre tank at the Levubu Police Station during the weekend. She said that the tank was stolen during heavy rainfall last Sunday. The tank was full of water and the thief first had to empty it.

"We opened a theft case at the Levubu Police Station and we are happy that the cops arrested the suspect and our tank is back. We were praying every day as Christians to God to expose the thief. Now God answered our prayers. Our tank has a mark and the thief couldn't see it," said Siaga.

David Mugwena's 10 000-litre tank was also stolen from his orchard at Mashau Village. Mugwena said he went to his orchard last Sunday and found that the water tank had been stolen. He said the thief broke the gate before stealing the tank.

"Fortunately, my tank has a mark on it, Madidimbu Orchard, and I simply identified it by that name. It was empty the day the thief stole it. I bought it in 2009 and it was very expensive. I opened a case at the Levubu Police Station and I'm happy that the police arrested the suspect," he said.

Warrant Officer Solly Mkhola of the Levubu SAPS said the case was postponed to November 21 for further investigations.