Water for Rural Africa (WRA) has charged South Africa\u2019s Ministry of Water and Sanitation to take \u201cimmediate and drastic steps\u201d to avert the water crises enveloping the south-western parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The group is also against the directive to self-ration of water, which it describes as a mere short-term measure.<\/p>\n
Cape Town has been one of the cities heaviest hit by the crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d a statement from the group said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 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,\u201d the group added.<\/p>\n
The group also said it was \u201cwilling 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find below the full statement<\/strong><\/p>\n ON THE WATER CRISES IN WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA, WATER FOR RURAL AFRICA CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n We therefore make the following proposals in the short term;<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Emergency service providers such as hospitals, schools should be identified and supported.<\/p>\n Creation of water wells and provision of storage facilities closer to communities to provide a sense of hope<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signed<\/p>\n Dr. Donald Agumenu<\/p>\n President\/Founder<\/p>\n Water for Rural Africa (WRA)<\/p>\n Mob: +233-242147198<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joachim Cupid Kumapley<\/p>\n Projects and Programs Coordinator<\/p>\n Water for Rural Africa (WRA)<\/p>\n Mob: +233-248996367<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Water for Rural Africa (WRA) has charged South Africa\u2019s Ministry of Water and Sanitation to take \u201cimmediate and drastic steps\u201d to avert the water crises enveloping the south-western parts of the country. 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":396209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[7940,481],"yoast_head":"\n