In South Africa, the water crisis is severe due to widespread infrastructure failures, inadequate government response, and a lack of clean water access for millions, which threatens public health and socioeconomic stability.
It is estimated that eThekwini Municipality loses 54% of its water revenue due to leaks, thefts and unbilled consumption. If these leaks are not repaired, water rationing will continue until a new dam is constructed on the Umkhomazi River in 2032, reports Daily Maverick.
In the Eastern Cape, there has been no access to tap water in the rural village of Lugada for over 30 years since democracy. The residents rely on a damaged borehole and walk long distances to collect water from a well. After a contractor damaged the infrastructure, a pipe installation project scheduled for 2021 was halted. In some villages, water infrastructure was installed years ago but has never worked.
Meanwhile, South Africa faces a looming water scarcity crisis that could exacerbate climate change-induced crises and lead to conflict. In Gauteng, scientists have identified the province’s water crisis as a potential tipping point for climate change soon. Several other regions throughout the country are also experiencing severe water shortages, posing a threat not just to economic stability, but also to the possibility of conflict escalation, writes Dhesigen Naidoo for the Institute of Security Studies.
Learners fetch water from the river, which they say is dirty.
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Publish date : 2024-10-23 12:19:43
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