Dams are full but taps are dry

Water and Sanitation Minister, Honourable Senzo Mchunu, has repeated this statement on many platforms since he took office in 2021. However, potable water at home is still an elusive dream for many people. There are a number of reasons for this. The reticulation system is in need of repair and maintenance, with many pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment plants operating beyond their intended lifespan. This often leads to leaks, water loss, and water quality issues. Water pollution is also a major issue, with industrial and mining activities, as well as poor sanitation practices, contributing to the contamination of water sources. South Africa experiences periodic droughts, and in recent years, several regions have been affected by severe water shortages. In 2018, Cape Town was the centre of global attention with its ‘Day Zero’ campaign. Day Zero warmings have since been issued in many parts of the Eastern Cape as well, and unless something is done to improve water supply, challenges could lead to major social unrest. Like the Unemployed People’s Movement’s Ayanda Kota likes to say: “water has become the basis of contestation in today’s South Africa”. To remedy South Africa’s many water challenges, the government has approved a multi-year one trillion Rand investment in a national water master plan. Effective implementation requires not only equipment but also skilled human resources (a number of municipalities recently returned money to the national treasury because they did not have the skills to roll out water infrastructure in communities under their jurisdiction). How serious are South Africa’s water challenges? What will it take to end the water crisis? The short films A Harvest of Drought and A Harvest of Neglect seek to answer those questions and more.