South Africa urges water restrictions as dam levels drop

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s government urged people to restrict water usage Monday as reservoir levels drop and rainfall is not expected until December.

Many parts of the nation of over 58 million people are facing water scarcities as summer arrives in the Southern Hemisphere and climate change brings hotter drier days, said Lindiwe Sisulu, the water and sanitation minister. Rainfall is becoming harder to predict and the dry season is more intense.

“There’s no need to panic. We just all need to be prudent,” she said.

“I implore you all to use water sparingly.”

South Africa’s government says the country is one of the world’s 30 driest nations.

The city of Cape Town last year faced the prospect of “Day Zero,” or the date when most taps would have to be cut off because of a long drought.

Strict water rationing in the city of four million people managed to avert that disaster.

Now the country’s commercial hub, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria, are among parts of the country most at risk.

The Vaal Dam that supplies the province encompassing both cities has dropped below 50% capacity, authorities say.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.