Attention broadcasters: Please find attached audio in English and Afrikaans.
The DA has written an urgent letter to Minister Majodina, requiring her reply about criminal cases brought against known Water Tanker Mafia who are sabotaging water infrastructure to keep their emergency contracts in place.
Last week Minister Pemmy Majodina submitted a written reply to a parliamentary question, in which she confirmed as a matter of fact that Water Tanker Mafia are sabotaging water pipes and pumps to keep up their multi-billion Rand tanker business.
This is outrageous, and should be met with the most serious, focused national criminal crackdown.
Majodina has provided no documented examples or account of criminal charges her department has opened, for these water tanker criminals to be pursued. Why is she not bringing national law enforcement to bare on something happening in broad daylight where the perpetrators are known by name?
If she admits to Parliament she knows they’re doing it, she is responsible for criminal action to be secured.
I must also challenge Minister Pemmy Majodina to announce publicly the number of water mafia cases her Department has referred to law enforcement bodies, and tell us their status.
Why have there been no arrests?
Her Department is also a member of NATJOINTS (National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure), yet the public remains in the dark on the number of cases her Department has referred, their nature and progress, in terms of arrests.
Arrests and prosecutions will stop the sabotage, not delays.
Addressing the water tanker mafia is also a key component of the President’s Water Crisis Action Plan, which he promised in February but only delivered in July. Referrals and arrests stemming from this are currently unknown.
It is not good enough for a government plan to promise it “must do” something – the plan needs to be implemented.
Minister Majodina’s Department is custodian of the nation’s water and is constitutionally tasked with ensuring water is effectively delivered, which mafia behaviour jeopardises.
South Africans deserve answers on what is being done against criminal actions that keep taps dry. Arrest and prosecute the Water Tanker Mafia now!
Words and task teams will not restore flowing taps – accountability and arrests will.