An eight-year-old Eastern Cape boy has drowned in a canal in the Great Kei region while drawing water for his family.
This, amid an "illegal strike" by employees of the Amathole District Municipality who have been accused by ADM of sabotaging the water supply to several towns, including Great Kei Municipality.
Acting Municipal Manager, Thandekile Mnyimba, said they received the news of the tragic drowning on Tuesday and he has since sent a team to investigate further.
"Sadly that incident took place and unfortunately a very young child, aged 8, lost his life. As ADM, through the Acting Executive Mayor, we have sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and the community at large.
Meanwhile, Mnyika said several local municipalities have been experiencing water challenges due to the alleged actions of employees who embarked on "an illegal strike" in a long-standing dispute over salary increases and other work-related issues.
He said for the past three days now Alice has been without water "because they (strikers) have closed the valves that are supplying the town.
"I can also confirm that at Mnqushwa Municipality (Peddie) they have sabotaged the water supply by damaging the infrastructure and opening up valves where treated water was left to flow into the fields," Mnyika said.
He said the water supply to the Mnquma Municipality (Butterworth) has been "seriously interrupted because they have now closed the valves supplying water to the Municipality.
Mnyika said they were engaged in discussions on Wednesday with Amatola Water Board to help intervene in Alice and through interventions underway are hoping that water supply is restored to the affected towns as soon as possible.
ADM has also obtained an interdict against the striking employees.
