EASTERN CAPE – The Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) has strongly condemned recent acts of economic sabotage and interference with critical infrastructure at the Ludeke Dam raw water pump station.
According to a statement issued by the municipality’s Head of Communications, Luncedo Walaza, a group of individuals from Ward 27 in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality (WMMLM) illegally forced the closure of the facility on January 26, 2025.
“This reckless action disrupted the operations of the Nomlacu Water Treatment Works, which provides essential water services to more than 10 wards. The shutdown has deprived thousands of households, schools and critical healthcare facilities of their fundamental right to clean, potable water,” said Walaza.
He added that the Municipal Manager of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Zamile Sikhundla, noted that the illegal act occurred despite ongoing high-level engagements between the municipality, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and uMngeni-uThukela Water. These discussions are focused on addressing community concerns regarding the construction of a bridge linking Wards 5 and 27.
“Whilst the municipality acknowledges the community’s infrastructure needs, using critical water infrastructure as a bargaining tool is unlawful and poses a serious risk to public health.”
He further reminded the public that interference with national and local infrastructure is prohibited under the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (Act 8 of 2019).
“We urge communities to raise their grievances through appropriate channels rather than resorting to the destruction or shutdown of state property. Vandalising or interfering with water infrastructure does not accelerate service delivery; instead, it causes undue suffering for the elderly, the sick and other vulnerable groups. Such acts will be met with the full might of the law,” Sikhundla said.
Technical teams are currently working to ensure the safe reopening of the pump station and the restoration of the water supply. The municipality has apologised to affected residents for the inconvenience caused by these criminal actions.
