The water crisis in Kimberley, South Africa, continues to worsen, with residents now facing the prospect of afternoon water shutdowns.
DA-Councilor Chris Whittaker of Ward 24 said in a statement on Friday that the water levels at the Newton Reservoir are very low, with one dam empty and the other three all below 10%. The tower is also almost empty, and the reservoir is running on one pump.
Whittaker attributed the low water levels to a continued slow supply of water from Riverton, which is the main source of water for Kimberley. He also warned that an afternoon water shutdown is likely.
This is a significant escalation of the water crisis in Kimberley, and it is clear that urgent action is needed from the municipality to address the problem.
The Kimberley Prospector has been reporting on the water crisis in Kimberley since before March 4, 2021. More recently, on October 20, 2023, it revealed that residents only have access to water for 7.58 months of the year. The article also revealed that the Sol Plaatje Municipality has failed to spend 44% of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant.
On October 25th, the Kimberley Prospector reported that the municipality had implemented emergency afternoon water interruptions in an attempt to conserve water and prevent a total shutdown. However, residents expressed frustration with the lack of progress in addressing the root cause of the problem.
The water crisis in Kimberley is a human rights crisis. Residents have a right to access clean water, and the municipality is failing to meet this obligation. The government needs to intervene and take action to ensure that all Kimberley residents have access to water.
Previous Articles
Kimberley Residents Face Life Without Water for Over 4 Months a Year, Despite Billions in Approved Upgrades, 44% of the Water Services Infrastructure Grant Remains Unspent, published on October 20, 2023. Includes many of our previous updates on the water crisis.
Tags: Newton Reservoir Riverton Sol Plaatje Municipality