South Africa: Water restrictions in effect in several cities October 28

Event

On Monday, October 28, the Minister of Water and Sanitation imposed restrictions to water use in major cities across the country, urging citizens to use water sparingly due to an ongoing drought and poor infrastructure. Johannesburg and Pretoria will be the most affected.

Context

South Africa is one of the top 30 most water scarce countries in the world; in 2019, dam levels across the country have reportedly dropped by 10 to 60 percent compared to 2018.

The city of Cape Town is regularly affected by water shortages. Water restrictions have been in place in Cape Town since 2005 but have become increasingly strict since December 2015.

Advice

Individuals in South Africa are advised to conserve water, stock up on bottled water, keep abreast of the situation via local media outlets, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities (e.g. water rationing measures).