I WAS recently contacted to respond to a theft of a water meter in Leeds Crescent in Pinetown.
This was the 12th water meter stolen in the area over the past 15 months.
In a country ravaged by water shortages, how is it possible that the water department did not respond to a particular call out with traceable reference numbers allowing precious water to flow into the ground for more than 12 hours?
This particular neighbour had their water meter stolen just before 7pm and it was reported to the water department within 10 minutes.
The following day, a full 12 hours later despite frantic calls to this office and thousands of litres of water wasted later, the day shift plumber on call arrives.
The damage to the home owners personal items runs into thousands of rands, let alone the water bill due to be posted for payment.
I am also going to escalate this to the ward councillor for Ward 18 for a full investigation as this trend is not getting the publicity it deserves.
Someone has to take accountability for this wastage of water.
The residents who have copper meters want the department to replace the meters to prevent future theft and cut off the option to have a repeat occurrence of this incident.
The ward councillor and the management must sit together and come up with a solution.
To those establishments who knowingly buy melted down copper scrap metal from petty thieves be advised you will be prosecuted if found to be trading knowingly in proceeds from such criminal syndicates whose only aim is to destroy infrastructure.
Superman
Pinetown
