The attacks are believed to be linked to criminal syndicates targeting critical infrastructure to steal electrical cables. On Sunday night (26/10), armed suspects allegedly shot a process controller during an attempted cable theft at the Zeerust water treatment plant. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Expressing concern over the escalating violence, Mayor Khumalo Molefe said the municipality is confronting a well-coordinated, well-funded, well-equipped, and heavily armed syndicate.

“It’s bad. This is not the first incident. Two weeks ago, they went to Dinokana, and based on current speculation, it appears to be the same group of individuals,” Molefe said.

“Last week they went to Ntsweletsoku, Ntsweletsu, Mokgola village, and Mosweu. But if you look at the Tswaing Local Municipality, they’ve ravaged Tswaing, they’ve ravaged Ditsobotla – we are under siege.

“If you go to the Mahikeng Local Municipality, you’ll realise these guys have gone beyond sabotage – they are actively undermining the legitimacy of government,” said Molefe, speaking to SABC News.

The attacks are not only endangering workers’ lives but also threatening the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services, he warned.

“They’re even targeting our professionals. I mean, process controllers are afraid to do their jobs. We now have a process controller with a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

”Who will come and work here? And if we can’t attract skilled professionals to maintain our water and sanitation infrastructure, what are the chances of us being able to provide sustainable water?” he asked.

More than 80 cases linked to similar incidents remain unresolved, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement. “There are up to 80 cases registered – none resolved. Is it really a coincidence that not even a single case has been solved?”

During the Zeerust incident, the criminals managed to escape – despite police arriving on time.

He appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene, drawing comparisons to previous national crises that prompted decisive government action.

“I appeal to the president – do to us what you did to Eskom when Eskom was facing the same challenge. Do to us what you did to KwaZulu-Natal when they were facing political killings.”

“You got in there; today, Eskom can register profit because there is normality. You intervened in KZN, and today we have looked at the chart; it’s green, there is stability.

“If we are not going to break the back of these syndicates – I bet South Africans we are on the verge of collapsing – because the money was supposed to be used to break new ground and implement water and sanitation augmentation projects,” Molefe warned.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs