THE PERILS OF THE WATER AND DROUGHT CRISES IN SOUTH AFRICA: QUO VADIS ?

Abstract

The paper argues that the South African government in respect to the drought and water crisis that is confronting the country has failed South Africans and it is too late to avert this disaster, in spite of the relevant ministry denying that there is no crisis. The water crisis was long coming.  The fact that the El Nino effects were known a decade ago, the government was caught unprepared. In spite of a ‘war’ on water leaks, fifty percent of water disappears from pipes. Compounding this problem was the fact that R2 billion was not spent by the water department and more than R7 billion in water revenue is lost every year. Political meddling, too little planning and a loss of skills have left South Africa and the country is therefore beyond drought repair. Given the electricity crisis with extremes of load shedding and high tariffs for electricity and now the drought and water crises compounds South Africa’s fragile economy and will contribute even further to unemployment, poverty and inequality and there is no strategic plan to overcome these perils as the country slides more and more into a disaster zone. The paper talks to the mismanagement of water resources as problems deepen and drought bites everywhere. On the hand theft drains urban water supplies. The issue that the paper attempts to ask is can industry ease the water crisis. It is the worst drought in decades and will have devastating effects on agriculture and the state admits the signs are bad, but talking of a water security threat is ‘premature.’ The widespread dearth of rainfall is set to hit food prices hard. A host of other issues will be discussed to complete this narrative.