The Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) has strongly condemned what it describes as acts of economic sabotage and unlawful interference at the Ludeke Dam raw water pumpstation, which led to the forced shutdown of the facility.
In a statement issued on Monday, 26 January 2026, ANDM spokesperson Luncedo Walaza said a group of individuals from Ward 27 in the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality (WMMLM) illegally closed the pumpstation, disrupting water supply operations.
Walaza said the incident has severely affected the Nomlacu Water Treatment Works, which supplies potable water to more than 10 wards. The shutdown has left thousands of households, schools and critical healthcare facilities without access to clean drinking water.
Municipal Manager Zamile Sikhundla said the illegal action occurred despite ongoing high-level engagements between the Municipality, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and uMngeni-uThukela Water. These discussions are aimed at addressing community concerns regarding the construction of a bridge linking Wards 5 and 27.
“While the Municipality acknowledges the community’s infrastructure needs, the use of critical water infrastructure as a bargaining tool is unlawful and poses a serious risk to public health,” Walaza said.
The Municipality has further warned that any interference with national or local infrastructure constitutes a serious criminal offence in terms of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act 8 of 2019 (CIPA).
“We urge communities to raise their grievances through the appropriate channels instead of resorting to the destruction or shutdown of state infrastructure,” said Sikhundla. “Tampering with water infrastructure does not speed up service delivery — it only causes unnecessary suffering to the elderly, the sick and the most vulnerable. Such acts will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”
ANDM confirmed that technical teams are currently on site working to ensure the safe reopening of the pumpstation and the restoration of water supply. The Municipality has apologised to affected residents for the inconvenience caused by what it described as criminal actions.
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