A POOR municipality in Limpopo, declared a disaster area last year, has become a hatching ground for theft of borehole equipment

The municipality has spent over R20 million since 2009 on boreholes to supply water to areas hit by drought, but some officials are allegedly hellbent on failing the system by stealing borehole equipment.

The Mopani District Municipality last week opened a case of theft against two of its officials based in the Tzaneen and Maruleng municipalities.

The officials are accused of targeting boreholes in Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, Giyani, Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit that were supposed to supply water to areas affected by water shortage.

Spokesperson for Mopani municipality, Mashadi Mathosa, said it was sad that those fingered were municipal employees who were entrusted with making sure that all services relating to water were delivered.

"We are working on a very sensitive lead and we hope a sizeable number of people, including service providers, will be arrested in connection with the theft of the equipment," Mathosa said.

Municipal manager Tim Maake said the district had a population of about 1,2 million people, the majority of whom depend on water from boreholes and that delivered in municipal trucks.

He said the district needed about R270 million to address the chronic water shortage.

"Our plan is to draw water from Nandoni Dam in Venda to communities in Giyani and Greater Letaba, where drought is still rearing its ugly head.

"It is this kind of theft that makes some areas experience a serious water shortage," he said.

The district recently announced its budget of R1,3 billion for the current financial year, the bulk of which would address the water crisis in the region.

Spokesperson for the police in Limpopo, Lieutenant Colonel Mohale Ramatseba, declined to give out names of the suspects, saying more people were likely to be arrested.