Drought disaster

In January 1968, on the day our family were preparing to return to Rhodesia from a holiday in East London, we noticed that rain clouds were building up. That day had been declared a national day of prayer for rain!

We called at the local petrol station to fill up and check the tyres for our long trip home. While we were sitting in the car I heard the plaintive tolling of church bells, calling the people to church. I noticed owners locking up their shops, and making their way to the church at the top of the road. An old lady dressed in black trudged past our car.

Suddenly huge raindrops started plopping on the dusty road. The old lady dropped to her knees in the road, hands clasped in prayer. And the rain came! We had to drive off then and the rain followed us all the way back home. I’m in my eighties now and I’ve never forgotten it! SHEILA VERMEULEN, HILLCREST

The Cape Town water situation is drastic and calls for drastic measures!

The 60% of residents who refuse to save water shouldn’t just be hit with a punitive tariff. Their supply should be reduced to a trickle by insertion of washers in their feed line. The City of Cape Town used to use this method when consumers defaulted on their rates – why not now?

If this system were implemented, the savings would be enormous – giving us time to bring plans to avoid Day Zero altogether. Water abuse should be seen as a criminal offence. BILL, CAPE TOWN

To Capetonians, you have a water crisis – stop dyeing your hair. I live in Gauteng. Our dams are full but I’ve made peace with my grey hair. It’s a vanity we humans can no longer afford. NURIAH ABRAHAMS, PRETORIA

The article on Day Zero (YOU, 8 February) states “residents will be invoiced on their municipal bills” for the water collected at distribution points. How many people don’t own their homes and don’t have municipal accounts? REAL LIFE, SMS