Qunu: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has expressed frustration and disappointment over the ongoing vandalism of water infrastructure in the Eastern Cape, warning that such acts are undermining efforts to deliver reliable water services to local communities.
According to South African Government News Agency, Mahlobo visited Qunu Village in Ward 19 with Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thursday, 2 October 2025. Their visit was part of a two-day program aimed at addressing service delivery challenges in the area, including inspecting the Qunu Noyiya Water Scheme.
The visit was crucial in evaluating the challenges faced by the community, providing updates on water supply progress, and ensuring the newly constructed Qunu Reservoir could supply clean water to households. Mahlobo reported that the reservoir had been out of operation due to vandalism affecting two boreholes that feed into it.
“One of the boreholes has been fixed and it pumps 500 million litres per day (mgl/d) to the reservoir. Working together, the district and local municipalities and the Department of Water and Sanitation team have concluded that the main cause of the vandalism is a lack of security,” Mahlobo stated. The reservoir now distributes 0.1 mgl/d to households, supplying water to the Qunu community.
Mahlobo noted that the second borehole in Mqanduli Village is still under repair and is expected to be fully operational by 10 October 2025. He highlighted that the ongoing vandalism is crippling service delivery and jeopardizing lives. Efforts are being made to combat this through enhanced security in high-risk areas, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with law enforcement.
He emphasized the importance of collective action from both communities and government authorities to prevent further damage and ensure a continuous supply of safe and sustainable water services. Following the site inspection, Deputy President Mashatile and Mahlobo engaged with residents to discuss the current state of water services and explore solutions for improving supply and maintenance.