MZANSI is facing another crisis.
The citizens have been warned to use water sparingly.
During a post Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, 28 September, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said water challenges were affecting several areas across the country.
“Cabinet reminds everyone that our actions are crucial to ensuring a sustainable and equitable water supply. We must all play our part to save every drop by not watering lawns or filling swimming pools with drinking water. Wash your car using a bucket, take a two-minute shower instead of a bath, fix all water leaks in your house and report leaking water pipes to your local municipality,” she said.
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu was supposed to brief the media on the issue in the afternoon, but the briefing was cancelled.
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Ntshavheni said the Cabinet was aware of allegations that contractors who supply water with tankers were deliberately vandalising the infrastructure so they could keep supplying water to affected areas.
She said government was working together with the municipalities to address the matter.
On electricity, the minister said the Cabinet was encouraged with the progress to return Units 1, 2 and 3 at the Kusile Power Station ahead of schedule in October and the end of November.
“The return to service of Kusile Power Station's Unit 4, from planned maintenance has brought back 800 megawatts to our power grid. This milestone is central to generating capacity for the national grid in addressing the frequency of load shedding,” she said.
Ntshavheni pointed out the bird flu in the poultry industry was a concern for Mzansi.
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The Western Cape and KZN experienced outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) H5, while HPAI H7 has been reported in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West.
She said: “Control measures to manage the spread of the outbreaks are in place and farmers are encouraged to observe prescribed biosecurity measures. The outbreaks pose food security risks and trade measures in the form of imports to manage availability of fertile eggs, table eggs, and poultry meat may be implemented.”
Ntshavheni said the Cabinet has called on communities to be on high alert for the extreme weather conditions warnings after heavy rains and storms hit the Western Cape, and Eastern Cape hard while fires ravaged some parts of Gauteng.
