Persistent incidents of vandalism and theft are causing widespread disruption and financial strain on the City's water and sanitation services, with millions of Rands lost and significant operational challenges faced.

The ongoing acts not only disrupt essential services but also incur unnecessary expenses, diverting resources that could otherwise improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

According to recent reports, the Water and Sanitation Directorate has spent over R12 million this financial year repairing and replacing vandalized and stolen equipment. In informal areas, about R1.18 million was allocated to replace 89 manhole covers, 80 rodding eyes, 1034 stolen taps, and 257 vandalized and missing toilet parts. In formal areas, the cost surged to R10.8 million to replace 3666 missing manhole covers, 2809 stolen water meters, 649 meter covers, 1204 hydrant covers, and 275 missing valve covers.

These replacements strain financial resources and cause delays in addressing service issues, diverting precious time and resources from maintaining and enhancing service quality.

Beyond the financial burden, vandalism jeopardizes public health and safety, causing inconvenience. Damage to the water network or pipelines can compromise water quality, while disruptions in sanitation services can lead to sewer overflows, posing risks to public health.

From July 2023 to March 2024, the Directorate addressed 64,149 sewer blockages, with 52,665 due to misuse. Approximately 82% of blockages resulted from system misuse, costing about R371.7 million to resolve.

The City affirms its commitment to service delivery,