The O.R. Tambo District Municipality has welcomed the arrest of suspects allegedly linked to the theft of municipal infrastructure at an old sewer pump station in Mthatha.
In a statement issued on Monday, 26 October 2026, the municipality commended law enforcement authorities for their intervention, warning that infrastructure theft places additional pressure on municipal finances and service delivery.
The municipality clarified that the incident occurred at an old sewer pump station that is no longer operational and is awaiting formal decommissioning. It is not the same facility as the Mthatha Wastewater Treatment Works that was recently vandalised.
Although the pump station is no longer in use, the municipality emphasised that its equipment and components remain public property until the formal decommissioning process has been completed.
According to the municipality, serviceable components from decommissioned facilities can be recovered and stored for future maintenance and repairs elsewhere in the system.
Copper allegedly recovered in connection with the incident has been taken for weighing and assessment to determine its quantity and estimated value. The municipality said it would not speculate on the financial losses until the assessment is completed.
The municipality also confirmed that there was no dedicated security guard stationed at the facility because it was no longer operational.
While CCTV installation forms part of its planned infrastructure protection measures, procurement for these systems has not yet taken place.
Residents have been urged to report suspicious activity around municipal infrastructure to the police and avoid confronting suspected criminals.
The municipality stressed that preventing infrastructure theft requires cooperation between government, law enforcement and communities.
“When infrastructure is stolen, service delivery pays the price,” the municipality said, warning that stolen components could otherwise have been used to support repairs and maintenance.
