Water tanker mafias: Ratepayers question if new anti-corruption forum can tackle graft

The Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum has been launched by the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Special Investigating Unit. The newly launched Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum must clamp down on corruption in the sector, including the abuse of the water tanker system by so-called water tanker mafia groups. This was said as ratepayers in KwaZulu-Natal have voiced their concerns about the new body and its priorities following its official launch last week.

They acknowledged that the forum faces a significant challenge in the sector, but warned it might become another toothless structure. The forum will be led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) together with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The DWS indicated that the establishment of the forum follows findings from 16 SIU proclamations related to the Department of Water and Sanitation, with nine investigations completed and seven still active.

The department said the decision to establish the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum follows a corruption vulnerability risk assessment conducted by the SIU, which identified the water sector as particularly exposed to fraud and corruption risks. Among the risks in the sector highlighted by residents and human rights organisations is the use of water tankers to supply water. A councillor in a municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, speaking on condition of confidentiality, highlighted the threat posed by the supply of water using water tankers.

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“There is an element of sabotage of the water infrastructure in order to supply water through water tankers. The black community often bears the brunt of this. “For example, you will find that a black community area has no water, but the suburban area next to it has water.

This does not make sense,” said the councillor. He said each time there is no tap water, it’s not because there is no water in the municipal system. Ratepayers in KZN said the supply of water in the province is being undermined, including by the use of tankers.

The eThekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association President Ish Prahladh said the water tanker mafia has had a significant effect on communities. “(If the mayor rules) out the procurement of new water tankers and employing more drivers, it could be a big relief for the communities. Now, with the new body, we hope that it is a very effective and capable body to set things right in the water sector.

This has yet to be proven, and we have to wait and see. It’s always a guessing game when it comes to corruption.”

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