Mokonyane appeals for public’s help

Water and Sanitation Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, has assured South Africans that no water shedding will take place during the drought that’s gripped large parts of the country.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department says it fears the festive season may be challenging for the drought stricken province. These are mostly situated in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces.

“According to her, the numbers could rise further to more than eleven thousand rural communities in case the dry spell extended further depleting the local water resources”.

KwaZulu-Natal has been declared a disaster area due to low rainfall and increasing temperatures. Farmers in the Western Cape have already applied for drought relief, she said.

“The main droughts impacts are however at local and rudimental water supply schemes, where more than 50% of schemes are experiencing serious water shortages”.

Mokonyane said the normal heat and weather patterns experienced recently have resulted in an increase in demand on the system by consumers.

“I must however confirm, that Gauteng faces no imminent risk of water shortages”, she said.

Mokonyane says the average levels of all dams in KZN are sitting at 58%. She added it was imperative for South Africans to use water sparingly and explore ways of recycling used water.