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The O.R. Tambo District Municipality has condemned an act of sabotage that disrupted construction at its nearly R79 million Disaster Management Centre, a critical project designed to improve disaster response times during floods and severe storms.
What Happened
At around 03h10 this on the 8th of October 2025, unknown intruders broke into the construction site and tampered with newly installed exterior lights, leaving them dangling from live electrical cables. The municipality confirmed that the incident has been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation.
Officials described the act not as petty theft but as “sabotage of development”, warning that such crimes directly derail projects intended to protect lives and improve service delivery.
Official Response
The O.R. Tambo District Municipality expressed frustration over recurring acts of vandalism targeting public infrastructure, stating that each incident diverts funds meant for new development projects.
“Every time criminals vandalise public works, budgets meant for new water schemes, clinics, and roads are diverted to repairs,” the municipality said in a statement. “Progress stalls, and communities later ask why taps stay dry or services arrive late.”
The municipality emphasised that vandalism has already crippled several water schemes in the past, forcing authorities to spend millions on emergency water trucking to affected villages.
Community Impact
The R79 million Disaster Management Centre forms part of O.R. Tambo’s long-term investment to strengthen disaster readiness and public safety across the district. Once completed, it will serve as a central hub for emergency coordination during floods, storms, and other crises.
Municipal leaders said the repeated attacks on infrastructure are not only costing taxpayers but also delaying service delivery and safety improvements in vulnerable rural communities.
“O.R. Tambo is turning the corner — stabilising finances, restoring water systems, and investing in safety,” the statement added. “But no government can build while criminals tear down.”
Residents have been urged to report acts of vandalism or theft from public works projects, with the municipality warning that “every stolen pipe, cable, or light delays water, delays safety, and steals hope from your own family.”
