Brixton water meters go missing
BRIXTON - Water meter thieves leave streets streaming with clean, potable water.
Brixton, Cosby, Auckland Park, Hursthill and Melville have been hit by what is believed to be water meter-stealing syndicate that has left roads streaming with water.
The perpetrators steal the meters for the copper, which they sell to scrap metal dealers for a pittance in comparison to the cost of more than R800 to replace the meter.
“There is a team operating and some wear green bibs. They seem to set up the meter, clearing the mud, leaves, etcetera and then the one that actually takes it does so in two seconds,” Brixton resident Ashley Heron revealed.
This has been going on for a couple of weeks and it is a crime committed during the day.
Another resident, René van Niekerk expressed his concern at the amount of water being wasted due to this criminal deed.
“This is very scary as South Africa is officially classified as a semiarid country with extremely stressed water resources,” he said.
“The future availability of water is uncertain and many state organs promote the conservation of water. Yet millions of litres of water is wasted by this theft.”
Van Niekerk added that it took Joburg Water 30 hours to attend to his complaint, as there were more than 100 other similar cases they had to attend to in the area. Meanwhile, he was without water for two consecutive days.
A security camera caught one of the alleged perpetrators in the act, and Brixton residents are offering a R500 reward for information that will lead to the suspect’s arrest.
Ward 69 councillor Katja Naumann confirmed that three suspects were apprehended in the Crosby area by an off-duty reservist. They have all been charged at the Brixton Police Station.
“There are bound to be more suspects, and residents are urged to be on their guard and report all suspicious looking people to their local police or sector crime forums,” Naumann advised.
She said Superintendant Mike Smith from Sophiatown metro police has also launched an investigation into the local cash for scrap industry.
“Residents are encouraged to report all theft to their local police and to SMS their home address including the message ‘stolen water meter’ to Joburg Water on 082 452 6422 for replacement,” informed Naumann.
The MMC for Infrastructure Services and Environment Anda Mbikwana said he would investigate the matter further.
