Plumbers need security for meter thieves

Security guards may have to accompany plumbers in Copesville after threats made to their lives by water meter thieves.

Durban - More than 120 brass water meters have been stolen in Copesville in less than two months, adding to the water woes in the struggling Pietermaritzburg suburb.

Now the Msunduzi Municipality has confirmed that security guards may have to accompany plumbers to the area after threats made to their lives by water meter thieves.

The suburb is currently without water after the main supply was cut by the municipality as it struggled to fix the leaks and repair the damage done by criminals.

Residents have been without water since Saturday.

Municipality spokeswoman, Nqobile Madonda, confirmed they were looking into providing plumbers going into Copesville with security after they came face-to-face with water meter thugs on Monday night.

“Their safety was compromised and we are looking at ways to mitigate the danger,” she said.

The matter was reported to police.

It is believed the thieves were in the process of stealing meters when the municipal plumbers arrived.

Because of the threats against them, they were forced to leave and water was left gushing because of the theft.

The municipality was then forced to shut off the water supply while attempting to fix the leaks and replace the meters.

Madonda urged residents to be patient and assured them the municipality was doing everything it could to restore the water supply.

Daily News