Middelburg – The Steve Tshwete municipality has expressed concern over the raising incidents of theft of copper water meters in the municipality.
The municipality said due to the rising number of these incidents, they are forced to channel finances toward replacement and repairing the meters.
“This results in the municipality deviating finances to repair water meters that have been stolen or vandalised,” the municipality said in a statement.
The municipality added that it believes that the water meters are taken by the suspects to sell at the scrap yards, and has therefore urged scrap yard owners to report any suspicious municipal assets that are exchanged at their business premises.
The municipality also called on residents to report suspected stolen municipal property to the police. “When residents witness any suspicious municipal assets being stolen or sold, they are requested to report to the South Africa Police Service, and the municipal call centre,” said the statement.
Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela told the publication the municipality is working tirelessly with law enforcement officers to curb the theft of water meters. “With the assistance of our law enforcement, we are working around the clock to prevent further theft and damage of the water meters. If we catch the perpetrators, we immediately hand them over to the police,” he said.
“This is costing the municipality millions which is money that is supposed to be spent on service delivery.”
Residents can report suspicious stolen municipal property as follows:
South African Police Service on 10111
Municipal Call Centre on 013 249 7344 and 064 915 3362 (WhatsApp)
Civil Engineering Services 013 249 7168 (Middelburg)
Civil Engineering Services 013 249 7337 (Hendrina)
