FOLLOWING the violence, looting and destruction of property that broke out in the Northern Areas of Nelson Mandela Bay a week ago, the DA in the Eastern Cape said there was fresh evidence of sabotage by “some rogue elements”.
In a statement today the DA called on SAPS to prioritise and speed up its investigations into alleged sabotage by some municipal officials in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Member of the mayoral committee, councillor Annette Lovemore, laid charges of sabotage with the SAPS over a month ago.
At a press conference held by executive mayor Athol Trollip on Sunday, community members came forward saying that they had seen people in an unmarked vehicle closing a water mains valve which led to areas of KwaZakhele, New Brighton, Zwide and Soweto-on-Sea.
“It is imperative that the SAPS investigate with urgency so that those responsible for denying residents access to basic services are brought to book,” DA Eastern Cape provincial spokesman Mlindi Nhanha said.
“The DA-led coalition in Nelson Mandela Bay has made it clear that it will not bend over backwards to consent to the demands of some self-serving civil servants who have made it their business to sabotage service delivery in the city; both directly and indirectly.”
Nhanha said the DA in the Eastern Cape expressed its full confidence in Trollip and his team, and encouraged them to continue to take “difficult but necessary decisions in reversing the rot of corruption and restoring good governance”.
“We commend him and his team for offering a reward of R25 000 for information that will lead to a successful prosecution of these criminals, and further urge communities to report any suspicious acts in their areas.”
