Mafias rule a water tankering system needing urgent reform
‘Water mafias’ siphon public supply for profit. There is an urgent need for the enforcement of tracking, record-keeping and investing in permanent infrastructure.
The "water mafias" are exploiting South Africa's water tankering system, which has become a permanent feature of water service delivery due to systemic infrastructure neglect. This system, designed as an emergency measure, has been manipulated and commercialised, putting undue pressure on municipal budgets and denying communities reliable access to water—a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution’s Section 27.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has been critical of these malpractices, highlighting cases of private water vendors obtaining municipal water at reduced costs and selling it at exorbitant prices. These vendors have even threatened to damage infrastructure to gain access, demonstrating that these are not ordinary businesses but rather water mafias prioritising personal financial gain over community welfare.
The author visited a water package plant owned by the municipality and observed water theft, with private vendors drawing water for free and selling it to households. The author recommends several reforms, including improving record management, investing in municipal water tankers, adopting technological surveillance systems, and moving towards permanent solutions for water provision.
The tragedy of Mr. Celani Zungu's death underscores the urgent need for reforms to ensure access to sufficient water as a basic human right.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
