Water sabotage in Margate: Reward offered; Human Rights Commission approached

The AfriForum branch in Margate is offering a reward of R10 000 for information that would lead to the successful prosecution of persons who sabotage or damage the water supply system to the town. The AfriForum branch has also lodged a complaint at the Human Rights Commission against municipal workers of the Ugu District Municipality after numerous water pipes and valves were presumably damaged by municipal workers during a recent strike.  It also seems as if municipal workers have taken control of the water supply network and are preventing the community from having access to water. 

“We suspect that the water supply network is being sabotaged so that individuals and groups can gain from possible contract work. This and the actions by the municipal workers come down to a violation of human rights, because everyone has the right to access to water. This is the reason we decided to turn to the Human Rights Commission,” says Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal.

“Businesses in the Ugu District Municipality suffer annual damages as a result of tourists cancelling their stay because of a lack of water supply. It is extremely detrimental to the local economy and that’s why we decided to offer a reward for information in this regard,” explains Adolf Oosthuizen, AfriForum’s Margate Branch Chairperson.

AfriForum invites anyone with information in this regard to come forth. Information will be treated confidentially and can be reported to Wessel Pretorius at 082 318 6195.

Become involved in your local AfriForum branch by sending an SMS with your name to 45267 (R1).