Themba Khumalo

THE dramatic sight of white Capetonians queuing for water has no doubt captured the attention of millions of South Africans and indeed, the world. The situation epitomises events in a modern city, in the desert, where the resource is a luxury. The drought reinforces the prediction by water scientists that World War III will most probably be fought over water. The doomsday prophecy of Day Zero in the next two months or so has aggravated the panic and people are stockpiling water. Pundits are predicting social chaos that will ensue as a result of Day Zero when there won’t be a drop of water to drink in the Mother City.

The Department of Water and Sanitation believes that Day Zero, when the taps run dry, can be averted.

Importantly, this week the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille decided to put aside their political spat and agreed to work towards addressing the challenges of the drought in the interest of the people of the province. Meanwhile, officials in the water department are working on the problem, through scientific and practical ways to mitigate the effects of this natural disaster so that no lives are lost.

There are possible solutions that have been implemented and continue to be applied by the national government in the Western Cape. Key among these is the water conservation campaign that the department, together with the provincial government and municipalities, have embarked on. Given the water scarcity in South