Water thievery nightmare

Kenya KamboweRUNDU Water stolen from Rundu town council pipelines has become a thorn in the flesh of the cash-strapped town, which currently has to fork out millions every month to pay its steadily growing NamWater debt of about N$100 million.Illegal water connections have been a hot topic at the riverside town over the years.Last week, Namibian Sun observed three construction companies, Strydom Construction, Mukapa Investment and Greenworks Investment, which are currently constructing houses near the Kaisosi location, being fined N$10 000 each for sourcing water directly from the council's pipelines without following established procedures.The companies are subcontracted by MPEACE Property Development, which is currently building hundreds of houses in Rundu.The companies connected to the council's main pipeline despite having procured water meters, therefore costing them less.Namibian Sun understands that the aim is to increase their profits.The fines must be paid by 2 October, while the water meters will remain disconnected until they cough up.'Not my fault'When contacted for comment, Fourie de Villiers from MPEACE Property Development denied that the companies were stealing water from the council to construct houses.“Let me make it clear and let us understand each other, if you put my name in the newspaper, then we will have problems. My brother, don't try something you don't have facts on,” he said.After several threats, he later admitted that the subcontractors were at fault.“The subcontractors that are building there are the guys who made the fault; it is not me that made any fault, that we must understand clearly,” he further said.Illegal water connections rifeRundu town council administrator, Sebastian Kantema, told Namibian Sun illegal water connections are rife at the town. He said council has been fining people caught stealing water, however, the situation remains.He also said those who are stealing water are disadvantaging others, because council is forced to pay more money to NamWater.“It's a very serious issue and residents should just refrain from that. We are the ones complaining that we need to provide services, yet we are the same people stealing the resource,” Kantema said.“It's a selfish act being committed by those doing it and they should stop.”

Water thievery nightmare

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Water thievery nightmare

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

Please login to leave a comment

Login