Water dispute near Delmas turns deadly

A dispute over water between residents in Sundra, Mpumalanga, turned deadly after a 33-year-old man was fatally shot on Sunday. Mpumalanga police arrested an elderly man, 71, in Eloff near Delmas for murder after an argument over water access in the afternoon. The South African Police Service (Saps) said the incident happened around 5pm between the deceased and the suspect, who live at the same address.

The suspect is the landlord and the victim was a tenant. The Victor Khanye local municipality has experienced water shortages becauseRand Water has provided limited supply since 2024due to the municipality’s massive debt. The municipality experiences low water pressure and intermittent supply in certain areas like Delmas, Sundra, Eloff and Rietkol.

Last year, Rand Water said Victor Khanye is an overconsumer and called for the municipality to reduce its consumption. Due to the ongoing water shortages, the suspect had installed a Jojo tank in the garage to be used when municipal water was unavailable. The suspect placed the tank on his side of the premises.

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“It is alleged that the deceased attempted to enter the garage to switch on the pressure pump to get water. The suspect reportedly refused him entry,” police said. “The deceased then allegedly forced his way to the tap, at which point the suspect shot him at close range, striking him in the left eye.”

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