Gift of the Givers threatened by ‘water mafia’ while providing aid to Eastern Cape flood victims

IT SEEMS that "water mafia's" greed knows no bounds, not even the devastating floods that claimed the lives of 90 people in the Eastern Cape can melt their hearts.

This after humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers' volunteers were intimidated while delivering essential water supplies to the affected residents of Mthatha.

In the wake of the intimidation the organisation's drivers had endured, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder and chairman of Gift of the Givers, fired back at the perpetrators saying that they were "not afraid", and they would continue to serve the needs of community, with the backing of the government and communities.

Sooliman detailed the alarming encounters faced by their drivers who were met with threats while transporting much-needed water.

“Given the hardships and difficulties of the people and the fact that 90 people have passed on, the behaviour of the water mafia is totally disgusting,” he declared.

Dr Sooliman appreciates the swift action taken by the South African Police Service (SAPS), which provided a convoy escort—flanked by police vehicles both in front of and behind the charity’s water tankers—to ensure safe passage for their operations.

“The situation has completely calmed down. However, we are calling on the community of Mthatha to help us locate a black Toyota Fortuner from which the threat was made; this person needs to be arrested,” he urged.

In a bold statement, Sooliman addressed the perpetrators directly, declaring, “This is a message to all water mafia: we will take you on wherever you are. Gift of the Givers is not afraid of anyone. We have the support of the government, SAPS, SANDF, and above all, we have the support of the communities and the municipalities.”

He expressed resolve against those who exploit others' suffering and insisted that “profiteering from the hardships of people has to stop.”

The situation drew the attention of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who reacted strongly to the intimidation tactics targeted at Gift of the Givers.

He stated, “It is alleged that members of a so-called ‘water mafia’ reportedly linked to service providers contracted by the OR Tambo District Municipality threatened Gift of the Givers staff as they distributed clean drinking water to residents impacted by the recent floods.”

During a recent visit to Mthatha, Mchunu expressed gratitude to the police for their efforts during the crisis and firmly condemned any attempts to obstruct humanitarian work.

“The police will not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct those who are working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to our people,” he asserted.

Mchunu noted that any attack on Gift of the Givers was not merely an attack on an organisation but on the very values of Ubuntu that underpin South African society.

Further emphasising the commitment to public safety, the Minister assured that law enforcement would act decisively against these threats and also revealed disturbing reports of theft targeting the homes of flood victims.

“We have also been made aware of individuals who go to the homes of those who lost their lives due to these floods, with a view to committing acts of theft,” he warned.

Police forces are deployed to ensure the safety of these properties and safeguard the dignity of the deceased and their families.

Dr Sooliman welcomed the backing from the Minister and reiterated the significant need for supportive community action to curb such heinous behaviour. 

DAILY NEWS