Staying in South Africa where a looming water crisis has hit one of the country's largest cities. Cape Town has implemented tighter restrictions in response to an ongoing severe drought. However, over 60 percent of households haven't been sticking to the prescribed limit of six thousand liters of water per month. Punishments are now set to be introduced, with the city's mayor warning the point of no return is fast approaching. CGTN's Travers Andrews now reports.
It's the sort of news, many Cape Townians were dreading, the worsening drought has lead to even more water restrictions and now only 50 liters of water is allowed per person per day. That's down from 87 liters per day and it is implemented after some residents all but ignored please to decrease their use and now the city plans to get tough. Among new measures to be introduced are heavy fines to errant residents, as the city prioritizes stability of the economy, going forward.
RUSSEL BRUETON CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, WESGRO "Economic centers would as far as possible, not be as impacted on precisely because the economy is necessary to be maintained and we need to create jobs but obviously we awaiting those full details."
It's also working on a plan to introduce water stations throughout the city, where people can collect their water allocations, come day zero. One sigh of economic relief was the tourism sector, which seemed to be flourishing, even amidst the drought.
RUSSEL BRUETON CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, WESGRO "So far we actually really saw and excellent December peak seasons according to Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport, saw an 11,5% increase year on year international arrivals, that means we actually saw a growth in tourists arriving in Cape Town."
There is, however, a general consensus amongst stakeholders, that the worst is now unavoidable and that has increase the anxiety amongst Cape Townians.
TRAVERS ANDREWS CAPE TOWN "The revised water allocation is going to be tough to stick to and here on the streets, there is already a deep concern."
"Day zero is imminent, it's going to happen and we have to just like start to think about that, start to realize that we are gonna have to going to do something."
"We concerned about it because we got children, we got a household, we got washing to do, for us the 50 liter won't be enough, what we going to do about it, I don't know because it's not in our hands."
"The community is very scared you know, of not having water because now the situation is going to be bad, people are going to be worried now, water is a need here in South Africa."
For now, day zero is projected for the 21 of April this year, when the taps run dry and situation becomes what may be the worst natural disaster, the Mother City has ever seen, Travers Andrews, CGTN, Cape Town.