A Johannesburg Water truck was torched and workers robbed in Lenasia South as threats against staff during duty escalate.
Johannesburg Water is concerned about the rising number of attacks on its staff members while they are on official duty and acts of vandalism.
The water and sanitation utility has strongly condemned all violent attacks against its officials and acts of vandalism targeting the City of Johannesburg’s infrastructure.
These violent actions, which put officials’ lives in danger and prevent them from carrying out their duties, include robbing, threatening, and intimidating officials, as well as hijacking official Johannesburg Water vehicles.
In one incident, protesting community members in Lenasia South set a Johannesburg Water jetting truck used to unblock sewer lines and prevent spillages on fire.
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The community members also allegedly robbed the officials of their personal belongings, including cellphones and wallets.
“These kinds of acts are not only criminal behaviour which places officials’ lives at risk and is grounds for legal consequences. This also severely impedes service delivery and slows it down significantly,” the utility said in a statement on Tuesday.
‘Preserve and protect’ infrastructure
Johannesburg Water noted that such incidents occur frequently. It warned that its officials and those from the City of Johannesburg will promptly call on law enforcement to act against anyone who breaks the law.
“Johannesburg Water would like to remind communities that the preservation and protection of the city’s assets, infrastructure and its employees and staff provide much-needed value to the residents of the city, and therefore we all need to join the campaign to protect our resources by reporting illegal and criminal activities that undermine these resources,” the utility said.
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