Amid a drought, the city had set a 50-litre daily limit and had told citizens “Day Zero” was approaching when people would have to queue at standpipes.

But water-saving efforts in the South African city have seen the day pushed back from April to 27 August.

Seasonal rains should mean that date is now averted, the city said.

The shortages follow three years of low rainfall.

“Thus, provided we continue our current water savings efforts, Day Zero can be avoided completely this year,” the city government said in a statement.

“It is now up to all of us. If we keep on saving, we will not have to queue for water this year.”

‘My wife doesn’t shower any more’

Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance which governs both the city and wider Western Cape province, said water consumption had been cut by 60% in two years.

I want to thank the residents of Cape Town, who have responded magnificently. Everyone has played their part to keep the taps open.

Consumption now sits at between 510 and 520 million litres per day – down from almost 1.2 billion litres in February 2015!

The city had resorted to increasingly drastic measures to clamp down on water usage, including “naming and shaming” the 100 addresses using the most water and fining residents who failed to comply with the 50 litre (13 gallon) limit per person.

By comparison, the average UK consumer uses some 150 litres of water per day.

Although the risk that piped water supplies will be shut off this year has receded, politicians and environmentalists warn that the water crisis is there to stay in Cape Town, as year-on-year rainfall levels dwindle.

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Source: BBC

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The government made the announcement after reassessing the “magnitude and severity” of the three-year drought.

It has badly affected three of the country’s nine provinces.

The decision came as Cape Town announced its water saving measures, which require each citizen to use less than 50 litres a day, had successfully pushed back “Day Zero” to 4 June.

Just a matter of weeks ago, the date that Cape Town’s taps were predicted to run dry was 12 April.

Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), which runs both the city of Cape Town and Western Cape province, tweeted:

In another tweet, he revealed the average water use in Cape Town, a city of about four million people, was below 550 million litres. Two years ago, it was at more than a billion litres per day.

It has been no easy task for Cape Town’s residents. The 50 litre limit is just enough for a very short shower and one flush of the toilet a day when other needs – including just one load of the washing machine a week – are taken into account.

However, the decision to declare a national disaster means the central government – which is run by the African National Congress (ANC) – will now take responsibility for relief efforts.

According to South African news website eNCA, the co-operative governance minister Des van Rooyen said last week more than 70m rand (£4.2m; $5.8m) had been put aside to tackle the crisis in the Western Cape, as well as in the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, two provinces which have garnered less headlines, but are also struggling with the effects of the drought.

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The group is also against the directive to self-ration of water, which it describes as a mere short-term measure.

Cape Town has been one of the cities heaviest hit by the crisis.

“We are kicking against the short-term measures that was put in place by the authorities of Cape Town directing residents to cut down their daily water consumption by almost half, from 87 litres a day to 50 litres (13 gallons) a day since it is clearly unsustainable,” a statement from the group said.

“A more sustainable solution such as investment in infrastructure needs to be immediately considered to provide for the short fall. Medium to long term measures should also be developed to strategically tackle this situation to prevent it from reoccurring,” the group added.

The group also said it was “willing to partner with the African Union and any organization as we work to meet the global needs to providing clean drinking water and sanitation to every community in Africa.”

Find below the full statement

ON THE WATER CRISES IN WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA, WATER FOR RURAL AFRICA CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION

Water for Rural Africa (WRA) calls for immediate and urgent action to be taken to address the current drought gripping the south-western parts of South Africa. It is worrying to note such a challenge in urban Africa. Immediate and drastic steps need to be taken to avert a crises situation. The importance of water to the socio economic needs of the continent cannot be over emphasized. Water is life.

No meaningful development can be achieved without a stable supply of clean affordable drinking water. It is worrying not to have adequate supply of water. It is alarming when the supply source of water becomes uncertain. This has the potential of not only rolling back the gains of development but also a clear source of conflict in the sub region. Africa has had one too many conflicts and a water crises at this moment in Africa’s most advanced economy could be spelling doom for the entire continent. We are appealing for this matter to be addressed as a matter of urgency. We are calling on the Southern African Development Corporation to convene without delay to find immediate short term solution to this situation. We are kicking against the short-term measures that was put in place by the authorities of Cape Town directing residents to cut down their daily water consumption by almost half, from 87 litres a day to 50 litres (13 gallons) a day since it is clearly unsustainable. A more sustainable solution such as investment in infrastructure needs to be immediately considered to provide for the short fall. Medium to long term measures should also be developed to strategically tackle this situation to prevent it from reoccurring.

We therefore make the following proposals in the short term;

We call on the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and the authorities of the Western Cape Province to identify other sources of water in the sub region and redistribute water targeting the most affected communities. This will require a regional corporative effort and collaboration.

Emergency service providers such as hospitals, schools should be identified and supported.

Creation of water wells and provision of storage facilities closer to communities to provide a sense of hope

Agri SA must take proactive measures to ensure farmers in the catchment area are provided with hand dug wells for irrigation purposes so as to ensure food security.

The world has set for itself a challenge to meet the water needs of its ever increasing population in the Sustainable Development Goals and in particular goal 6. Africa has a major role to play in meeting these targets most especially in the provision of potable clean drinking water. The African Union must make water an important issue on its agenda. We as an organization is willing to partner with the African Union and any organization as we work to meet the global needs to providing clean drinking water and sanitation to every community in Africa.

Water for Rural Africa is a Non-Governmental Organization with the prime focus of providing clean drinking water for rural Africa. We have set our self the target of providing ten million rural Africans clean drinking water and sanitation by the year 2030. Thank you.

Signed

Dr. Donald Agumenu

President/Founder

Water for Rural Africa (WRA)

Mob: +233-242147198

Joachim Cupid Kumapley

Projects and Programs Coordinator

Water for Rural Africa (WRA)

Mob: +233-248996367

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Schools and universities have had to shut, roofs were blown off and shelters have been opened for those left destitute.

The storm comes at the end of the region’s worst drought in a century.

The BBC’s Mo Allie in Cape Town reports that before the storm, there had been several interfaith prayer group meetings praying for rain.

Our correspondent adds that the storm was anticipated and warnings have been made by the local authorities for the last week.

Among the dead is a family of four killed in a fire started by lightning, said Western Cape Disaster Management spokesman James-Brent Styan.

He added that many people had been injured by flying debris.

BBC weather forecaster Philip Avery warns that Wednesday could bring in excess of 50mm of rain to some western areas of South Africa, accompanied by winds of 60-90km/h.

Coastal areas face the additional hazard of high tides, reinforced by storm waves, some of which may reach 10m.

Thursday should see conditions easing but a passing cold front will introduce much cooler weather in all areas.

In May, the Western Cape province declared a drought disaster after two reservoirs were already completely dry.

Southern African nations are reeling from a two-year drought.

The UN estimates that over 40 million people have been affected by the drought that was caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

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Source: BBC

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Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Busera Awel said, “serving Africa is our prior commitment as a Pan-African carrier, and increasing services to Cape Town, known for the Table Mountain is part of this commitment. The increase in flight frequency to Cape Town, our third gateway in South Africa, will enable tourists and business travelers to enjoy convenient connectivity options to and from 95 Ethiopian global networks on-board our state-of-the-art fleet, Boeing 787.”

“Furthermore, our 10 times weekly service will enhance our capacity to over 400% in a year time. We always strive to offer the best possible passenger and cargo services the industry has to offer, including a wide variety menu of meal services with the newly inaugurated modern In-Flight Catering facility, served with a multiple award winning inflight services.”

Ethiopian currently flies to three cities in South Africa, namely: Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Flight No Effective Date Frequency Departure Airport Departing Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Subfleet ET 0849 5-Dec-16 1.2.4.6. ADD 23:30 JNB 3:55 ET 763 .2.3.5.7 JNB 4:55 CPT 7:15 ET 763 ET 0848 6-Dec-16 .2.3.5.7 CPT 20:45 JNB 22:35 ET 763 1.3.4.6 JNB 23:35 ADD 6:00 ET 763 ET 0847 2-Dec-16 1.2.3.4.5.7 ADD 8:30 CPT 14:15 ET 788 ET 0846 2-Dec-16 1.2.3.4.5.7 CPT 15:05 ADD 22:30 ET 788 About Ethiopian Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 95 international destinations across five continents.

Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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