SA Skeptical as ANC’s Pemmy Majodina Blames Extortionists and Mafia for Water Project Failures

• The ANC NEC member, Pemmy Majodina, has slammed municipal officials for their failure to communicate water issues with their residents
• The National Executive Committee member stated that extortionists and mafia are responsible for the crippling of water projects
• Water and Sanitation Minister Majodina said that her department is working closely with SAPS to crack down on the mafia

The Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, has accused extortionists and the mafia of crippling water projects.

What did Majodina say?

The National Executive Committee member stated that her department is collaborating with the South African Police Service to crack down on extortionists and the mafia responsible for the crippling water projects.

Speaking at the sidelines of the ANC's NEC meeting in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, on Saturday, 13 September 2025, the minister lamented municipalities for failing to communicate with residents about water issues. She said that there are incomplete projects. Majodina stated that these projects are incomplete because they are on schedule 5, a stage where municipalities appoint contractors.

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Funds taken back from municipalities

The minister said that her department has reclaimed the funds from municipalities. She stated that the department would intervene by sending an agent to oversee the completion of the infrastructure projects. Majodina stated that this will result in a much higher cost.

Majodina said that the water mafia is beyond count in the North West. She stated that extortionists and the mafia stop the projects with certain demands.

What did South Africans say?

Social media users shared their opinions regarding the statement made by the minister.

@RNaidoo said:

"Scums give how the tenders to these mafia’s and now they act as if it’s not their own fault."

@kim_khadaso said:

"There's no such things as WATER MAFIA. What is present is a systematic effort by the GNU Government to incapacitate all State Owned Assets and hand them over to their friends in the Private Sector. The security firms that guard Rand Water and all other water suppliers are part of this scheme."

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@avindrenmudaly said:

"Anc are stealing from taxpayers, investigating themselves for stealing, using taxpayers' money to bankroll that investigation, effectively stealing from the people they already stole from, to investigate themselves with a favorable outcome."

@MARsarh_ said:

"They jst can't take responsibility."

@DoboLeon7436 said:

"The ruling party is now worried about water Mafia's and extortionists but who created them because this is a new trend under their leadership. They must no mislead us about some of the things created by themselves."

@LenTimbrell said:

"Ag please, she probably part of the whole thing!"

@Sankomota_ said:

"Criminals run better systems than government in our country. The systems help them commit crimes and avoid punishment while politicians tell communities what they already know instead of solving the problems."

3 More stories about extortionists in SA

• Briefly News previously reported that Western Cape South African Police Service officers got into a shootout with suspected extortionists in Cape Town.
• Eight members of the South African Police Service from the Public Order Police unit in Cape Town will appear in court on 9 October 2024.
• The Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal arrested seven police officers and one civilian for extortion-related crimes.

Source: Briefly News