Police in Mpumalanga have arrested a 71-year-old man for the murder of a 33-year-old man following a dispute over access to water in Sundra, Delmas.
According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday, February 8, at around 5pm. The deceased and the suspect, who resided at the same address, allegedly became involved in an altercation after the deceased attempted to access the suspect’s section of the property to switch on a pressure pump to obtain water.
Police said the dispute unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing water shortages. A JoJo tank had been installed by the landlord in the garage to be used when municipal water supply was unavailable, but the tank was located on the suspect’s side of the premises.
“It is alleged that the deceased attempted to enter the garage to switch on the pressure pump to access water, but the suspect refused him entry. The deceased then allegedly forced his way to the tap, at which point the suspect shot him at close range, striking him in the left eye.”
Police added that when the deceased’s wife tried to enter the area where her husband had been shot, the suspect allegedly threatened to shoot her as well, prompting her to flee back to her side of the house.
Following the shooting, members of the community reportedly gathered at the scene and became highly agitated, allegedly threatening to kill the suspect and burn down the house.
The suspect was immediately arrested and is expected to appear in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, February 10, on a charge of murder.
Meanwhile, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has condemned the incident, describing it as a “senseless loss of life” that highlights South Africa’s deepening man-made water crisis.
National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the tragedy was not the result of natural scarcity, but of “years of corruption, mismanagement and institutional incompetence” in the provision of water.
“When access to something as basic and essential as water becomes a contested enterprise, it exposes the consequences of the Ramaphosa administration and the so-called Government of National Unity’s failure to maintain infrastructure, combat corruption and ensure reliable access to clean drinking water,” Ndhlela said.
“It is unacceptable that ordinary South Africans are forced to fight for their constitutional right to water, and even more abhorrent that such struggles are now costing lives.”
The party extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and called for urgent intervention to restore accountability and prevent further loss of life.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za