With drought and poor infrastructure maintenance, it seems South Africa is on the verge of a national water crisis.
In recent months, taps have run dry in various provinces across the country. In some areas, like Kimberley and Tshwane, it is a direct result of dire infrastructure and resource management. In the Eastern Cape, a crippling drought, coupled with meagre contingency plans, has left thousands without water. The Western Cape knows the impact of drought all too well. Stringent water restrictions, dam rehabilitation projects and desalination schemes were instituted two years ago, when the City of Cape Town realised that its water supply would run out. While Cape Town – and the greater Western Cape – managed to avert disaster, day zero still looms for the rest of South Africa.Rand Water restrictions in Gauteng
Residents of Laudium, in Tshwane, were recently left without water when taps ran dry without notice. The shortage, resulting from infrastructure failures and restrictions, beset the region for four days. Because of a recent heat wave in the area, schools were forced to close. A drop in dam levels in Limpopo has also caused water scarcity in Tzaneen, Mogalakwena, Modimolle, Bela Bela, Thabazimbi and Polokwane.In the North West province, intermittent water disruptions, as a result of drought and poor planning, have forced government’s hand.
