Vandalism, theft and sabotage of municipal infrastructure are prevalent, with many municipalities confirming the existence of water and construction mafias. 

This is according to Dr Henk Boshoff, commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), after it released a comprehensive policy brief to tackle water mafias and systemic sabotage of essential water infrastructure. 

Talking to Thulasizwe Simelane on SAFM on Friday, Boshoff said the commission had engagements with municipalities over the past 12 months in all nine provinces. 

He said the commission arranged the sessions to try to understand the root causes of inadequate basic service delivery. 

“About 90% of the municipalities said there was vandalism, theft and sabotage of municipal infrastructure,” he told Simelane.

“Many municipalities confirmed the prevalence of water mafias and construction mafias. When I recently had discussions with mayors, they also confirmed the presence of water mafias in municipalities,” he told Simelane. 

Boshoff said they know the only reason for the appointment of some “service providers” in municipalities was for them to benefit financially. 

“They are appointed to provide water tankers, for example, and there is a reluctance by municipal officials to appoint staff members or fill vacant positions in municipalities to perform the services.  

As Environment Month draws to a close, the SAHRC put a spotlight on water. The commission was concerned that the right to access clean water, a constitutional entitlement, is under threat.

The SAHRC published a policy brief delving deeper into systemic sabotage of essential water infrastructure, particularly by water mafias.