The Tshwane Metro has made it clear that contractors, developers and any other third parties who damage municipal infrastructure during construction or upgrades will be held financially liable for repairs.

The metro further said that incidents of vandalism and cable theft are reported to the SAPS and pursued through insurance claims where possible.

This follows concerns raised by the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), which called on the metro to explain how it deals with damage to municipal infrastructure caused by criminal activity, vehicle accidents and construction work.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the city has established mechanisms to recover repair costs whenever municipal infrastructure is damaged during construction activities.

“Where construction activities result in damage to municipal infrastructure, such as water pipe leaks or the collapse of sewer lines, the city has established mechanisms to recover the associated repair costs,” Mashigo said.

“Cost recovery is pursued in accordance with the city’s Wayleave Policy and applicable municipal by-laws, ensuring that those responsible for the damage are held accountable.”

FF+ councillor Mark Surgeon called for transparency on how the metro manages incidents involving damage to public infrastructure.

Surgeon argued that criminal cases are not always opened following incidents such as cable theft, which could affect both criminal investigations and the city’s ability to recover losses through insurance.

“So, the metro is paying insurance premiums, but cannot make use of the cover it offers. As a result, repair costs are paid from the metro’s budget and, ultimately, taxpayers foot the bill,” he said.

He further called on the metro to ensure that every incident involving damage to municipal infrastructure is properly recorded, investigated and, where appropriate, that repair costs are recovered from those responsible.

According to Surgeon, a transparent and consistent process is essential to protect public infrastructure and prevent unnecessary financial losses to the municipality.

However, Mashigo dismissed concerns that incidents of intentional damage are not reported to police.

“Incidents involving the intentional damage or vandalism of municipal infrastructure are reported to the police for investigation. Where applicable, the city also registers an insurance claim to facilitate the recovery of losses arising from the incident,” he said.

He added that a SAPS case number is mandatory before an insurance claim can be processed.

“The city submits insurance claims for qualifying incidents involving damage to municipal infrastructure. A SAPS case number is a mandatory requirement for the insurance claim to be processed further, ensuring that claims are appropriately documented and supported.”

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