Latest news with #SenzoMchunu
News24
14 hours ago
- News24
Gift of the Givers calls for arrest of ‘water mafia' after threats in flood-ravaged Mthatha
Gift of the Givers Foundation staff received threats while providing water to residents in flood-ravaged Mthatha. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu previously condemned the threats, and authorities are providing armed protection for aid workers. The humanitarian organisation called for the arrest of those responsible. Gift of the Givers Foundation founder Imtiaz Sooliman has called for the arrest of the 'water mafia' after aid workers were threatened while distributing water to flood-ravaged residents in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The person who made the threats, he said, was driving a black Toyota Fortuner at the time. His call came days after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the OR Tambo District Municipality condemned the intimidation of the workers. The municipality has contracts with companies that own water tankers and distribute water to people during outages. Gift of the Givers has been distributing the water for free ever since the floods hit the Eastern Cape, claiming the lives of at least 92 people, most of them in Mthatha. Sooliman said information indicated that someone driving a black Toyota Fortuner had made the threats. 'Gift of the Givers appreciates the message of support from the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, against the water mafia who tried to intimidate Gift of the Givers drivers while delivering life-saving water to the people of Mthatha, who were severely affected by the floods,' he added. READ | Gift of the Givers 'water mafia' intimidation an attack on ubuntu, says Mchunu 'Given the hardship and difficulty of the people and given the fact that [over] 90 people have passed on, the behaviour of the water mafia is totally disgusting. We appreciate the fact that the SAPS acted immediately by sending an armed person in the truck with our drivers, as well as a car following the water tankers. 'The situation has completely calmed down, but we are calling on the community of Mthatha to help us find a black Toyota Fortuner from which the threat was made, and we need that person arrested,' he said Sooliman added that profiteering from people's hardship needed to stop: This is a message to the water mafia: we will take you on wherever you are because Gift of the Givers is not afraid of anyone. 'We have the support of the government, the SAPS, the SANDF, and above all, we have the support of the communities and the municipalities when it comes to assisting people in dire need, as is the case now in Mthatha and the Eastern Cape. 'This kind of heinous behaviour has to stop. We hope that the government will now extend the support it is giving to Gift of the Givers to all areas where the water mafia are capitalising. All those types of tenders have to stop in the interest of saving money and in the interest of the people of our country,' he said. On Wednesday, Mchunu said the police would not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct those working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to the people. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need. Any attack on them is an attack on the very principle of ubuntu,' the minister said.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Gift of the Givers staff threatened by Eastern Cape 'water mafia'
The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu has condemned the threats and intimidation directed at humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers while delivering lifesaving assistance to flood-affected communities in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. Inclement weather conditions that had been forecast wreaked havoc in parts of the Eastern Cape last week. As a result, hundreds of people were displaced as they had to be evacuated from their flooded homes, while water and electricity infrastructure were also damaged. At least 90 people have been confirmed dead. According to the police, 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. In condemning the incident, Mchunu said police will not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct those who are working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to people. Mchunu said the Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need. 'Any attack on them is an attack on the very principle of ubuntu. No individual or group will be allowed to profiteer off disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of our people. Law enforcement will act decisively. 'The SAPS will ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in the area, and hold those responsible fully accountable under the law. 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 from these homes. Police have been deployed to ensure the safety of the property of the deceased.' In response, the OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape said it is appalled and deeply disturbed by the threats directed towards officials of the Gift of the Givers Foundation. 'We wish to state without fear that extortion is a crime and it is a moral betrayal of the highest order, especially when directed at those extending a hand to the helpless. To prey on a crisis is to turn pain into profit. It is merciless, and it will not be tolerated,' the municipality said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
'No way police can lead fight against GBV': Police minister Senzo Mchunu
Minister of police, Senzo Mchunu. Image: Werner Hills Police minister Senzo Mchunu told parliament the SA Police Service (SAPS) cannot be expected to lead the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). 'There is no way SAPS can lead the fight against GBV,' Mchunu told MPs. 'That's one view we are discouraging from within SAPS — to portray themselves as the fight against GBV. It is not true and it's impractical.' Instead Mchunu called for a broader, society-wide approach to combating the scourge of violence, particularly against women and children. 'We must all get involved as opposed to saying SAPS are leading and then pose a barrage of questions solely to SAPS,' he said. 'Post-incident, yes, we do investigate arrests and pursue justice. But prevention is not solely the job of the police.' Some opposition MPs did not take kindly to the remarks. ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe acknowledged the role of other sectors but said the police must shoulder a central role. 'I agree that there are other stakeholders that have to be involved in attempting to reduce GBV,' he said. 'But whenever there is violence — no matter what kind — the police must take responsibility to ensure the safety and security. They must make sure those men who are violent are arrested.' Meshoe warned that if the SAPS failed to prioritise GBV, women and children would remain vulnerable. Mchunu responded that police are not seeking to escape responsibility but rather emphasising that prevention requires community-wide involvement. Last month Mchunu presented the country's latest crime statistics which painted a grim picture. 'Women remain disproportionately affected by rape, assault GBH and murder. Our resolve to fight GBVF is unwavering,' he said. South Africa continues to face one of the highest rates of GBV in the world. According to Stats SA one in three women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has suffered sexual abuse. The Human Sciences Research Council found that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime.
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Gift of the Givers ‘water mafia' intimidation an attack on ubuntu, says Mchunu
Staff members of the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers staff were threatened while distributing water to victims of the Mthatha floods. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the attack was 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu'. The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. Describing the 'water mafia's' intimidation of Gift of the Givers staff in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, as 'an attack on the very principle of ubuntu', Police Minister Senzo Mchunu urged officers to deal with them. Mchunu went to the town on Saturday and in a statement on Wednesday, he said the police would not tolerate any attempt to intimidate or obstruct people who were working tirelessly to save lives and bring relief to those affected by the flooding in the area. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need,' Mchunu added. READ | 'Mafia' tells Gift of the Givers to stop providing free water to Mthatha flood victims The minister said no one would be allowed to profit from disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of people. 'The SAPS will ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in the area and hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.' The Gift of the Givers relief workers were distributing water to flood victims over the weekend when a group of people confronted them and demanded that they cease the relief operation. 'This happened on Saturday when the Gift of the Givers was busy distributing water to flood victims when the criminals directed them to stop what they were doing,' the municipality said in a statement on Tuesday. Confirming the incident, Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said the incident was perpetrated by the 'water mafia'. 'While our teams were busy distributing water, they received a threat from one of the service providers to the [OR Tambo District] Municipality. They were concerned that Gift of the Givers was giving water to the communities free of charge,' Sablay said. Mchunu added that police were also alerted to theft from deceased flood victims' homes. 'Police have been deployed to ensure the safety of the property of the deceased,' he said.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Police deployed to protect Gift of the Givers from water mafia
'To prey on a crisis is to turn pain into profit. It is merciless, and it will not be tolerated,' stated the municipality. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has strongly condemned threats made against the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers while they were providing critical assistance to flood-affected communities in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. The incident has prompted both national and local government to denounce what they describe as criminal opportunism targeting disaster relief efforts. Water mafia threats against relief workers Members of an alleged 'water mafia' reportedly connected to service providers contracted by the OR Tambo District Municipality allegedly threatened Gift of the Givers staff on Saturday, 14 June 2025, as they distributed clean drinking water to flood victims. The criminals allegedly directed the humanitarian workers to cease their relief operations. Mchunu, who was in Mthatha over the weekend to engage with South African Police Service (Saps) members involved in flood response efforts, expressed his outrage at the incident. '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,' Mchunu stated. 'Gift of the Givers has consistently been a source of hope and dignity to South Africans in their hour of need. Any attack on them is an attack on the very principle of ubuntu.' ALSO READ: Eastern Cape tragedy: What flood victims need and how you can help Flood impact and response The devastating floods have claimed 90 lives to date and displaced hundreds more residents across the region. During his visit, Mchunu thanked Saps members for their response efforts and addressed some of the affected families personally. The minister warned that law enforcement would take decisive action against those attempting to profit from the disaster. 'No individual or group will be allowed to profiteer off disaster or compromise the safety and well-being of our people,' he said. 'The Saps will ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers in the area, and hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.' ALSO READ: Disaster and death in the Eastern Cape: A timeline Additional criminal activity Beyond the threats against humanitarian workers, Mchunu revealed that police have been made aware of individuals targeting the homes of flood victims who lost their lives. '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 from these homes,' Mchunu said. 'Police have been deployed to ensure the safety of the property of the deceased.' ALSO READ: 'This is a catastrophic disaster': Ramaphosa visits devastated families after deadly EC floods Municipal response to water mafia The OR Tambo District Municipality recently expressed their horror at the threats against Gift of the Givers. The municipality described the organisation as a trusted partner that has worked alongside government to support families devastated by the floods. 'When the disaster struck, families stood ankle-deep in sorrow, the Gift of the Givers did not wait to be called; they came bearing food, water, and dignity,' the municipality stated. 'To learn that such humanity was met with criminal opportunism is not only heartbreaking, but utterly disgusting.' The municipality emphasised that extortion represents a moral betrayal of the highest order, particularly when directed at humanitarian efforts. 'To prey on a crisis is to turn pain into profit. It is merciless, and it will not be tolerated.' ALSO READ: Eastern Cape floods: Death toll rises as residents recount grim tragedy Ongoing extortion concerns The OR Tambo District Municipality acknowledged that extortion has become a growing problem across the district, with officials consistently speaking out against such criminal activities. The municipality has reported the matter to law enforcement authorities for urgent investigation and pledged to provide full support to ensure accountability. 'This municipality has consistently spoken out against the growing scourge of extortion across the district,' the municipality said. 'Today, we do so again, not only to defend our partners, but to defend what is right.' Community support Moreover, the municipality called on residents to reject criminal behaviour and support humanitarian efforts. 'To the people of OR Tambo: this is not who we are. We are a people who rebuild, who share, who rise for one another. Let us not allow the shadows of crime to cloud the light of compassion.' The municipality expressed gratitude to Gift of the Givers for their continued service to the community. 'To Gift of the Givers: we are deeply grateful. Your presence among us has been a balm to the broken. We stand with you. We fight beside you. And we will protect the ground on which you serve.' NOW READ: State of disaster in four provinces as floods claim 67 lives in Eastern Cape
