Vandals hit CHDM pump house in Khowa (Elliot)

The Chris Hani District Municipality says ongoing theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure is continuing to disrupt service delivery efforts in parts of the district.

In a statement shared on social media, the municipality said a pump house next to East Cape Fuels, connected to the old Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in Khowa, had recently been vandalised.

Photos SEEN show electrical control equipment ripped apart, exposed wiring hanging loose, and damage to infrastructure believed to be linked to the operation of the pump system.

According to the municipality, the damage has once again affected infrastructure meant to support essential services to residents.

“Our infrastructure continues to be under siege due to theft and vandalism,” the municipality said.

“These actions reverse the progress toward providing efficient service to the people.”

The incident highlights an ongoing challenge faced by municipalities across the Eastern Cape, where repeated theft of cables, pumps, electrical components and other infrastructure has led to service interruptions, costly repairs and delays in maintenance projects.

In many areas, residents have raised concerns over the apparent ease with which vandals gain access to municipal infrastructure sites. Questions are also likely to be asked about whether sufficient security measures are in place at vulnerable pump stations and utility facilities, particularly those containing valuable electrical equipment and copper cabling.

The municipality did not indicate when the vandalism took place, how much damage was caused, or whether any suspects had been identified.

It also remains unclear whether the affected pump house was secured by fencing, alarms, guards or lock-up systems at the time of the incident.

Infrastructure theft has become a growing problem for municipalities and state entities across South Africa, with officials frequently warning that repeated acts of vandalism place additional financial pressure on already strained public resources.

CHDM urged residents to report leaks and service-related issues to its 24-hour customer call centre on 0800 100 100.

At the time of publication, no further details regarding repairs or possible criminal investigations had been released.