Gauteng’s water cutbacks to be lifted

WATER restrictions will be lifted in most of Gauteng but some parts of South Africa are still experiencing water shortages.

The lifting of restrictions in Gauteng will be gazetted today with immediate effect.

After a two-year long hydrological drought, two water gates were opened yesterday afternoon to feed parts of the Vaal Dam system.

The country’s water average increased by 12.3% from the 54.8%. South Africa’s paramount water services affecting Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga, known as Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), increased impressively by 19% from 59.2% to 78.4%.

“The last two to three years have been difficult for the country based on the hydrological drought that has devastated large parts of the country, compromising the South African Development Community. The drought has truly not been just a South African experience but has been felt across the region,” said Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane yesterday at the Vaal Dam.

However, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and some parts of Northern Cape did not benefit from the rains. KwaZulu-Natal remains a concern after water levels increased by a mere 0.4%.

“We can see that most dams and systems are showing recovery at different levels,” Mokonyane said.

“While Western Cape and parts of Northern Cape expect upcoming winter rainfall, the situation in KZN is influenced by the insufficient recovery of dams.” Mokonyane said the Umngeni System was at 5.2% below the 58.8% it was last year.

The farmers have welcomed the rains despite concerns for flooding.

“The impact [of the rain] differs from farm to farm and thus the management is different,” African Farmers Association of SA’s Aggrey Mahanjana said.

Most of the country has had rain and the dams are overflowing; it is good.”