The Country’s Water Shortage and the Foreseeable Ramifications

By Matome Seketa

Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub, is currently also grappling with a severe water shortage. This is also the case for all provinces across the country, with rural areas being the most affected. The situation is particularly dire as renewable water sources are being overexploited.

Water is a highly unevenly distributed resource in South Africa, some marginalised South Africans consume water that has been transported from reservoirs located hundreds of kilometres away. This means a large portion of the country shares water from a single reservoir. Compounding the issue is the fact that much of the country’s water infrastructure is also in a state of disrepair, and load shedding is adding to the burden.

Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub, is currently also grappling with severe water shortages. This is also the case for all provinces across the country, with rural areas being the most affected. The situation is particularly dire as renewable water sources are being overexploited.

Moreover, the demands for water are forecast to also increase across all nine provinces, including the country’s main sectors –agriculture and industry. With the country already experiencing a severe water shortage, this means the situation is going to worsen unless bold steps are taken to address the water crisis. ESI Africa reports that South Africa is set to reach a state of full physical water scarcity by 2025. It is anticipated that we will face a severe water shortfall by 2030, this will, of course, also be exacerbated by the effects of climate change.

The state of South Africa’s water supply is a cause for concern. Despite current full dams, thanks to La Niña, ageing infrastructure, power outages, and sewage pollution continue to affect water supply across parts of the country. This means water supply problems are now spreading across the whole country. Broken infrastructure, load shedding, climate change, and an uneven distribution of water supply threaten the country’s drinking water supply. President promises to invest in infrastructure to ensure reliable water supply for people’s well-being and economic growth