OPINION PIECE
Water and sanitation infrastructure vandalism is a crime against humanity Water is life and sanitation is dignity. People need water for life and survival in as much as proper sanitation is critical for human dignity. We all need to safeguard water provision and proper sanitation for humanity. In as much as there are efforts to provide water and sanitation services to communities, we are faced with the threat of infrastructure vandalism.
Water infrastructure vandalism is a serious setback to water security. Infrastructure vandalism like pipeline sabotage and illegal connections lead to serious water losses which we cannot afford as a water scarce country. Infrastructure vandalism results in leaks which have been flagged as the main source of water loss in our country, wasting a lot of precious water. Water security therefore calls for responsible communities who protect water infrastructure from theft and vandalism to ensure that there is no unnecessary loss of precious water as every drop counts.
Water infrastructure vandalism also leads to unplanned water cuts leaving communities without the source of life which is a violation of human rights, as access to water is a basic human right. It pains me to see that people go for days and weeks without water because of irresponsible people who vandalise water supply infrastructure. Let us all hold hands and prevent infrastructure vandalism and ensure that everyone has access to the precious resource.Infrastructure vandalism hinders the provision of adequate sanitation services in the country.
The vandalism of sanitation infrastructure contributes to sewer spillages and the pollution of water resources and the environment. The vandalism and theft of sewer management infrastructure leads to the flow of untreated sewer into water resources which is basically the main source of water pollution in our country. The pollution of water resources makes water unfit for use which basically means loss of precious water which we cannot afford as a water scarce country.
Water resources pollution, especially sewer spillages pose a health risk, are detrimental to the environment, and negatively affects food security. We can prevent the unnecessary health risks and environmental degradation by preventing infrastructure vandalism in our communities. It is in our hands to ensure a healthy environment and food security.
Some municipalities have received serious penalties for polluting water resources and the environment because of malfunctioning waste water treatment plants, some of which are the result of theft and infrastructure vandalism. This then calls for the municipalities to beef up their security and ensure that the water and waste water treatment plants and associated infrastructure are well secured and protected.
Community members also have to play an active role to safeguard the infrastructure.Water and sanitation infrastructure vandalism is a criminal offence and must be treated as such. We must tolerate criminality in our communities, and must therefore report all those involved in vandalising our infrastructure and sabotaging service delivery. We need to report theft and malicious damage of infrastructure to the relevant law enforcement services and ensure that those criminals are brought to book.
Communities need to unite and take ownership of their water and sanitation infrastructure, protect them against theft and vandalism and root out all those rotten apples sabotaging reliable water supply and proper sanitation and sewer management. Let us stop the infrastructure vandalism in our communities to prevent unnecessary water losses, health risks and environmental degradation.
It is in our hands to ensure water security, a healthy environment and food security.We need to act now and stop these criminals as infrastructure vandalism is a crime, and at worst a crime against humanity as it infringes people’s rights to water and sanitation, and a healthy environment.Let us stop infrastructure vandalism and theft as it is taking communities and the country backwards. Themba Khoza
