No visible measures are in place to safeguard or to ensure responsible management and control of the vital strategic water supplies of Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

Whilst admitting in a recent interview that vandalism and theft of sophisticated equipment at the town’s boreholes and reservoirs are major factors in the recurring water crises, a shocking lack of the most elementary control measures to curb these problems was evident during visits last week to one of the town’s important water reservoirs.

During a recent interview conducted in the presence of the acting Municipal Manager and Council’s Director Corporate Services, Mr Peter Magwala, assistant manager Mr George Ntsundeni indicated that, apart from the shortages due to the huge demand brought about by development, and breakages caused by old infrastructure, the serious disruption of the town’s water supply for several days on end was partially caused by the fact that three of the town’s boreholes had been vandalised. Cables were stolen.

The serious disruption of the town’s water supply was further aggravated by the fact that the vital early-warning monitoring system has been permanently defunct for some time now as a result of theft and vandalism. The vital electronic monitoring system, which indicated to observers in the municipal offices the water levels in each of the reservoirs at any given moment, thus allowing for pro-active steps, has been virtually destroyed by theft and the vandalism. It has been dysfunctional for several months.

At the time, Mr Ntsundeni called on members of the public to assist in reporting the culprits. When his attention was drawn to the fact that, during a visit early this year, all existing gates were unlocked and wide open and that there were obvious neglect and no visible efforts from the municipality’s side to safeguard the important new reservoir and its installations near Tshikota, Mr Ntsundeni expressed surprise and assured journalists that these instillations were in fact well secured, supervised and regularly visited by his staff.

Several visits on two separate days during last week reaffirmed the total lack of responsible supervision and management of security at the reservoir. There were still no locked gates and the entire installation with its vital water supply lay wide open under a readily accessible and uncovered inspection hatch. A group of off-road enthusiasts managed to drive up to the reservoir unhindered. They reported the situation to the Zoutpansberger the next day, who, upon investigation, also managed to drive all the way up to the reservoir. Once there, the journalist was able to even climb on top of the open reservoir. The ease with which such an important strategic installation could be reached raised serious questions with regard to Council’s responsibility in safeguarding such a strategic asset.

Attempts to reach Mr Magwala for comment finally paid off early Wednesday morning with a firm promise by Mr Magwala that he would phone back with a response within a few minutes. At the time of going to press on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Magwala had yet to respond.