71-Year-Old Arrested for Murder Over Water Dispute in Mpumalanga
- A 71-year-old man was arrested for murder over a water access dispute in Mpumalanga
- The 33-Year-old victim was shot in the eye while trying to access water in Eloff
- Community unrest followed the shooting, with calls for justice and systemic review
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Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
Source: Getty Images
MPUMALANGA, SUNDRA – Police have arrested a 71-year-old man for murder following a dispute over access to water at a shared property near Delmas on Sunday afternoon, 8 February 2026.
33-year-old man killed in Mpumalanga
The incident happened at about 17:00 in Eloff. Police said the suspect and the 33-year-old victim were living at the same address, where a JoJo tank had been installed to cope with ongoing water shortages. The tank was kept in a garage on the suspect’s side of the premises.
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Investigators said the victim tried to enter the garage to switch on the pressure pump after municipal water ran out. The suspect allegedly refused access. When the victim forced his way to the tap, the suspect allegedly shot him at close range, hitting him in the left eye.
Police said the victim’s wife tried to reach her husband but was threatened by the suspect, who allegedly warned that he would also shoot her. She then fled. The shooting sparked unrest at the scene, with more than 100 community members gathering and allegedly threatening to kill the suspect and burn down the house. Police arrested the suspect shortly afterwards. He is expected to appear in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, on a charge of murder.
South Africans weigh in
Social media users shared their opinions regarding the murder.
Sîr Arnold said:
"The community members were wrong to threaten to burn down the house."
Debra Chamanga said:
"Something is wrong."
Wimpie Truter said:
"If the people responsible had done their job properly, this would not have happened."
Thulisani Mpofu said:
"What are the policies before the police grant people firearm competencies? Because instead of blaming the shooter, why not the system? Isn't it possible to expire the competency and order a proper new evaluation?"
Source: Getty Images
Other crime-related stories
A Mpumalanga man handed himself over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) on 2 February 2026 for allegedly murdering his two-year-old niece. According to the police, the incident took place at Phola Park on 1 February. Preliminary investigations revealed that the little girl and two other children between the ages of three and six were playing outside when the suspect approached them. He was carrying a knife.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has made a breakthrough in a mass shooting in Philippi as the area was rocked by another tragic incident. SAPS arrested a 19-year-old in connection with a deadly mass shooting at a shebeen in Philippi East on 17 January 2026. The shooting, at a shebeen in the Marikana informal settlement, left nine people dead.
Four people were killed in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, in a mass shooting on 17 January 2026. The shooting occurred less than 12 hours after seven people lost their lives in a mass shooting in Cape Town, Western Cape. According to the report, an unknown number of men jumped out of a vehicle and opened fire on the victims, who were allegedly drinking at a club.
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