SABI Magazine | Page 34

Water In drought stricken areas such as the northern parts of KwaZulu Natal, southern parts of Mpumalanga, and selected areas in Limpopo, North-West and Northern Cape provinces, about 50% of local water storage is problematic and could become critical if not managed carefully. As things stand today, the drought currently affects 173 of the 1628 water supply schemes nationally, serving approximately 2.7million households or 18% of the national population” says Minister Mokonyane Interventions The Department of Water and Sanitation has committed R352.6 million to the initial drought intervention projects and a further R96.620 million to interim tinkering and additional interventions in Kwazulu-Natal, said the Minister. Significant additional funding is still needed for a second drought declaration which is being led by the Province Disaster Management Unit of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. “Our work to deliver Bulk Infrastructure continues and in this regard, we are expecting that the Tugela Bulk Water Supply Scheme will become active in June 2016 and should assist us to alleviate some of the wa