Water and Sanitation Department calls on community to help police apprehend criminals that highjacked workers carrying out a water restoration project in uMkhanyakude District Municipality
The Department of Water and Sanitation calls on the law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to apprehend criminals responsible for kidnapping and high-jacking of two engineers contracted by Mhlathuze Water Board last week. The engineers were working to restore water infrastructure to Mntikini community in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mhlathuze Water reported that the engineers from Ziyanda Consulting were conducting site inspection of a water storage tank and a pump station when they were accosted by unknown men carrying guns. They were then hijacked and held hostage for nearly six hours at a nearby forest. The engineers were also robbed of some of the important belongings such as laptops and bank cards.
Mhlathuze Water was appointed by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu as an Implementing Agent in February 2022, to take over the management, operations and maintenance of the water and sanitation infrastructures at uMkhanyakude District Municipality. This was done in terms of Section 63 of the Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997, to ensure full restoration of the services to the district area.
The Departmental Spokesperson Ms Wisane Mavasa said the Department of Water and Sanitation condemns the incident and calls on members of the community to work with law enforcement agencies to trace and apprehend the suspects.
“The Department condemns in strongest terms this criminal incident that involved hijacking of expert engineers while on duty. This act of crime not only affects the workers, but it also negatively affects the community of Mntinkini because the water restoration project they were supposed to benefit all affected residents will be delayed due to safety measures. The affected engineers were working to advance a project that was meant to bring a much-needed services of water and sanitation in that area”, said Ms Mavasa.
Ms Mavasa also called on members of the community to own and protect water infrastructures in their area, and report incidents of vandalism to the authorities.
“We appeal to the residents to protect water infrastructures in their communities because any act of theft or vandalism of an infrastructure disrupts optimal service delivery of water and sanitation to communities. To restore damaged infrastructure takes a long time, and this equally affects the provision of services to the affected communities. The communities are therefore encouraged to take ownership of an infrastructure in their area and protect it from vandalism or theft”, emphasised Ms Mavasa.
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 060 561 8935.
Source: Government of South Africa