{"id":46146,"date":"2024-05-17T06:01:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T04:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/taxpayer-funds-drained-as-vandalism-and-theft-of-sanitation-infrastructure-cost-city-of-cape-town-millions-20240517\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T22:28:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:28:31","slug":"taxpayer-funds-drained-as-vandalism-and-theft-of-sanitation-infrastructure-cost-city-of-cape-town-millions-20240517","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/taxpayer-funds-drained-as-vandalism-and-theft-of-sanitation-infrastructure-cost-city-of-cape-town-millions-20240517\/","title":{"rendered":"Taxpayer funds drained as vandalism and theft of sanitation infrastructure cost City of Cape Town millions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vandalism and theft of water and sanitation infrastructure are costing taxpayers millions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the City of Cape Town, for this financial year alone it cost residents R12 million to repair and replace more than 10 000 water and sanitation infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayco member for water and sanitation Zahid Badroodien appealed to communities to work together to protect water infrastructure. \u201cBy protecting our network of pipes and equipment, we not only preserve essential services but also contribute to the overall well-being and development of communities,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet us work together towards a future where we are free from the threat of vandalism and theft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thousands of blockages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From July last year to March this year, the City\u2019s water and sanitation directorate attended to 64 149 sewer blockages of which 52 665 were allegedly due to misuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An estimated 82% of blockages, resulted from alleged system misuse and cost approximately R371 million to resolve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ: Vandalism causes water crisis in Cape Town\u2019s southern suburbs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/strong>Badroodien cautions that persistent incidents of vandalism and theft pose a significant challenge to providing an efficient operation of water and sanitation services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\u201cVandalism and theft incidents not only disrupt essential services but also result in unnecessary expenses, diverting resources that could otherwise be invested in improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities,\u201d <\/div>\n
Zahid Badroodien<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVandalism and theft incidents not only disrupt essential services but also result in unnecessary expenses, diverting resources that could otherwise be invested in improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In informal areas, the City spent R1,18 million on replacing 89 manhole covers, 80 rodding eyes, 1 034 stolen taps and 257 vandalised and missing toilet parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, formal areas cost taxpayers R10,8 million to replace 3 666 missing manhole covers, 2 809 stolen water meters, 649 meter covers, 1 204 hydrant covers, and 275 missing valve covers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe City is committed to providing reliable and efficient services to communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, the ongoing threat of vandalism and theft undermines these efforts and needs collaborative action from communities, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders,\u201d said Badroodien. \u201cDamage to the water network or pipelines can compromise water quality and disruptions in sanitation services can contribute to sewer overflows, posing risks to public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without water<\/span>
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Last month, suspected vandalism to a 915mm water pipe in Parkwood left hundreds of residents in the southern suburbs without water and organisations like the Cape of Good Hope SPCA needing emergency assistance to find water for animals in their care (\u201cRascality leaves South dry<\/a>\u201d People\u2019s Post<\/em><\/span>, 24 April). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ward 61 councillor Simon Liell-Cock said theft of water infrastructure remains a problem across the City while theft of electrical infrastructure was a larger issue in the deep south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\u201cTheft of water infrastructure is a big problem in areas like Red Hill informal settlement and Ocean View. For example, there has been a leak due to theft along a pipeline from Ocean View to Kommetjie that has to be fixed,\u201d he says. \u201cSmaller theft occurred at the Noordhoek sports field irrigation tanks.\u201d<\/div>\n
Simon Liell-Cock<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTheft of water infrastructure is a big problem in areas like Red Hill informal settlement and Ocean View. For example, there has been a leak due to theft along a pipeline from Ocean View to Kommetjie that has to be fixed,\u201d he says. \u201cSmaller theft occurred at the Noordhoek sports field irrigation tanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when it comes to theft of electrical infrastructure it has been a nightmare, said Liell-Cock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnything that is brass and copper is broken and stolen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To report individuals seen tampering with manhole covers or dumping foreign objects into the sewer system call 0860 103 089.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Vandalism in numbers<\/div>\n
\n

From July last year to March this year, the City\u2019s water and sanitation directorate attended to 64 149 sewer blockages of which 52 665 were allegedly due to misuse.<\/p>\n

An estimated 82% of blockages, resulted from alleged system misuse and cost approximately R371 million to resolve.<\/p>\n

In informal areas, the City spent R1,18 million on replacing 89 manhole covers, 80 rodding eyes, 1 034 stolen taps and 257 vandalised and missing toilet parts.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, formal areas cost taxpayers R10,8 million to replace 3 666 missing manhole covers, 2 809 stolen water meters, 649 meter covers, 1 204 hydrant covers, and 275 missing valve covers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vandalism and theft of water and sanitation infrastructure are costing taxpayers 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funds drained as vandalism and theft of sanitation infrastructure cost City of Cape Town millions | People's Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/taxpayer-funds-drained-as-vandalism-and-theft-of-sanitation-infrastructure-cost-city-of-cape-town-millions-20240517\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Taxpayer funds drained as vandalism and theft of sanitation infrastructure cost City of Cape Town millions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Vandalism and theft of water and sanitation infrastructure are costing taxpayers millions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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Repair costs reached millions of rand","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"City","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/64f187dd-c23f-4a00-9_59602.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/64f187dd-c23f-4a00-9_59602.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/64f187dd-c23f-4a00-9_59602.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/64f187dd-c23f-4a00-9_59602.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/64f187dd-c23f-4a00-9_59602.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44605,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/new-park-in-cape-town-vandalised-just-weeks-after-opening-20241022\/","url_meta":{"origin":46146,"position":2},"title":"New park in Cape Town vandalised just weeks after opening","author":"People's Post","date":"22 October 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A new park in Ward 67 has fallen victim to vandalism, causing frustration among residents and city officials.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/8c60339a3918485aaede866b02f9ff7e.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":53136,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/pump-station-vandalised-in-hout-bay-20220705\/","url_meta":{"origin":46146,"position":3},"title":"Pump station vandalised in Hout Bay","author":"People's Post","date":"5 July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A reward of up to R5 000 is being offered for information on the whereabouts of stolen property or a suspected offender linked to the theft of electrical cables and breakers, including the telemetry system, at the North Shore sewer pump station in Ha","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/1bf6ca8e27c84fda8c6b64ebe96de1dc.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":296210,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/city-of-cape-town-reports-805-streetlight-vandalism-incidents-in-three-months\/","url_meta":{"origin":46146,"position":4},"title":"City of Cape Town reports 805 streetlight vandalism incidents in three months","author":"TygerBurger","date":"17 December 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Cape Town recorded 805 streetlight vandalism cases in Q3 2025, costing R16 million. 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