Cable thieves stole everything that resembled copper cables from the sewage pump station near the end of Industria Street.

Thieves plundered the pump station over the weekend and the cables of the pump used to pump sewage were cut. Even the cables of the back-up pump were cut, while the electrical power box was wrenched from the wall, stripped of its cables and smashed on the floor. All of this only happened after the main power supply from the electricity pole across the street had been cut.

The damage at the pump station was reported to Council early Monday morning. In the meantime, the sewage water level inside the pump station raised and overflowed into the sewage storage dam outside the pump station. The dam also overflowed and covered the road like a river.

Municipal workers and outside contractors worked tirelessly to repair the damage.

“This probably took them half an hour to destroy and it takes us nearly two days to repair,” the contracted electrician apprentice, Mr Leon du Preez said.

Mr Masindi Mapholi, Director of Technical Services of the Makhado Municipality, reacted in strong terms and condemned the theft.

“And this while we are struggling to provide good quality water. It is a disgrace. We urge people to expose the vandals. People keep their silence. We are urging the community to assist us in identifying the thieves. It is for your own good. If you don’t get clean water, you will get sick and if you have no electricity, you will suffer. Vandalism has now escalated to a level where Council cannot sustain the repairs,” said Mr Mapholi.

“To think they reside within our municipal area and the police are not making any breakthroughs.”

At the local pump station, Mr Du Preez said that a new system is being devised to attempt to prevent theft and vandalism.