Warning: schools might have to close after Day Zero
THE Western Cape Department of Public Works said Day Zero may see more schools closing if they do not have a stored water supply.
This is according to deputy director-general for Public Works in the province Gavin Kode, who briefed the provincial legislature’s rules committee on what needs to be done to avoid the Western Cape’s taps from running dry.
“Most schools will have to close if they don’t have their own safe supply from boreholes or rainwater tanks.
“Many businesses will not be able to operate unless they can provide temporary toilets and drinking water.”
It is predicted that the city will hit Day Zero on April 16, the period when all taps will be turned off.
During this period, the City will move into full-scale emergency stage 3.
This means that water to households and businesses will be cut off.
There will not be enough water to maintain normal services and the taps, including toilets, will run dry.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille assured principals and education officials at a mass meeting in Kuils River that schools will not close if Cape Town reaches Day Zero.
Zille said every school must have a water emergency plan and assured stakeholders that officials would be available to assist in drawing up their strategies.
Kode said water supply would be limited to essential services, including hospitals and clinics.
He said all government departments need to have plans which focus on critical service delivery areas and essential services as Day Zero approaches.
He stressed that departments need to assess their staff requirements to render essential services.
Kode said most of the new sources, which include groundwater, desalination and reclaimed water from wastewater treatment plans, are far from complete.
“About 150 million litres per day of groundwater, 120ml of desalinated water and 22ml of reclaimed water are planned to come online by the end of the year.”
ANC MPL Maurencia Gillion lambasted the DA provincial government during the briefing for having no plans in place.
“From my point of view looking at the presentation and taking part in this meeting now, I think the province as well as the City of Cape Town don’t have a plan, they don’t have a concrete plan for Day Zero.
“My view on Day Zero is that a ‘gogga maak die baby bang’ (scare tactics) moment that is used to scare the community of the Western Cape and particularly Cape Town.
“The City has no plan, all I can say is poor planning is what got us into a situation like this.”
She urged the provincial government to stop engaging in blame games and work with the national government on finding a solution before Day Zero hits.