Media statement
Cllr Ofentse Madzebatela
MMC for Human Settlements
As MMC for Human Settlements, the department responsible for providing rudimentary water services to informal settlements within Tshwane, I am dismayed at the attack on a driver of a water tanker truck and the torching of the truck in Pretoria CBD yesterday.
The driver was physically assaulted but luckily was able to escape without sustaining any serious injuries.
Due to the violent nature of the unprotected strike, the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) usually escorts water tankers when they do their rounds throughout Tshwane, but this time the TMPD delayed to arrive and the driver drove out on his own from Prince’s Park Depot to Region 4 where the delivery of much-needed water was supposed to be made.
The driver was ambushed as he was making his way out of the depot and assaulted.
The water tanker serves the vulnerable residents of Olievenhoutbosch informal settlements in Region 4 and they will now be without water due to this criminal conduct.
A criminal case has been opened with the South African Police Service.
It is now clear that the city is no longer dealing with an illegal strike action, we are now dealing with a well-coordinated criminal attack on our infrastructure. Therefore, I would like to urge law enforcement agencies to act with haste and bring these criminals to book.
Media enquiries:
MMC Ofentse Madzebatela