Utrecht Water Treatment Plant staff tortured during robbery

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Law enforcement agencies have initiated investigations into a shocking crime at the Utrecht Water Treatment Plant, where both staff and security personnel fell victim to an incident involving armed assailants.

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This comes as the perpetrators subjected their captives to abuse and torture before making off with valuable equipment from the water treatment facility.

The distressing event occurred on 7 January 2024, as revealed by the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit. According to their account, an undisclosed number of suspects forcibly entered the Utrecht Water Treatment Plant, brandishing firearms to hold both staff and security personnel hostage.

The assailants then proceeded to inflict torture upon their victims before absconding with copper cables intended for the plant’s upgrade and refurbishment. The stolen property was loaded onto a truck used by the criminals for their getaway.

Expressing condemnation for the heinous acts, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit conveyed the disapproval of District Mayor Cllr Ndabuko Zulu.

The Mayor decried the abuse and torture inflicted upon innocent employees, some of whom were women. The victims were targeted simply for being at work, fulfilling their duty to ensure that the communities they served had access to water.

The Communications Unit further denounced acts of vandalism on water infrastructure supplying water to the eMadlangeni (Utrecht) and Dannhauser areas. Such actions were criticized for undermining and disrupting the municipality’s efforts to ensure water security for the communities in need of their services.

The District Mayor, Cllr Zulu, expressed disappointment over the recurring criminal incidents affecting water treatment plants. He asserted, “There can never be any kind of justification for these criminal and ugly incidents. We cannot have people who find joy in destroying the water infrastructure and stealing cables.”

Cllr Zulu highlighted the negative impact of vandalism on the municipality’s service delivery plans and targets.

He further emphasised that the municipality must allocate funds and take urgent measures to restore water supply when infrastructure is damaged, a situation not initially accommodated in the budget.

Additionally, Cllr Zulu cautioned residents that ongoing water challenges could persist if criminal elements were allowed to thrive. He urged community solidarity against criminal activities, “Let us unite against these acts and report all suspicious acts to the police or our local leaders.”

While the Amajuba District Municipality pledged its commitment to resolving water issues and the South African Police Service (SAPS) continued their investigations, the Communications Unit emphasised that a collective effort from communities and the District Municipality was crucial to putting an end to the vandalism and theft of essential infrastructure.

Community members are invited to share their thoughts on this distressing incident in the comment section below.

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