A drought levy is being proposed for water scarce Cape Town. The levy is facing wide opposition and there are claims it’s punitive and punishes those trying to save water.
The water crisis in South Africa’s Cape Town teaches us there’s more at play than just rainfall. Disasters like droughts means the issue must be seen from many different perspectives, like politics.
Citizen scientists collecting soil and fine-roots from under unhealthy plants.
Cape Citizen Science
Humans - the very “carriers” who can spread dangerous microbes unthinkingly from their equipment and shoes - can instead become the first line of defence against a possible microscopic invasion.
The All Blacks after beating the Springboks 57-0 in New Zealand on September 16, 2017.
Nigel Marple/Reuters
From a heritage perspective, the transformation of Cape Town’s grain elevator into an art museum delivers an innovative and creative solution to retaining and reusing industrial heritage sites.
Private security guards secure Uber offices in Parktown, a suburb of Johannesburg. Its drivers are constantly under attack.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
Cape Town promised alternative water sources with the ongoing drought being declared a disaster. Its main strategy is water rationing but climate models are also being used.
Christo Venter, University of Pretoria dan Gary Hayes, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
South Africa needs to review its approach to rolling out Bus Rapid Transit systems as the current model is proving to be too expensive and unsustainable.
Typical mass housing units in South Africa.
Filckr/IGN11
Durban one of South Africa’s third largest cities, by population has reported that the number of people living in informal dwellings has remained stubbornly high.
Low levels at Cape Town’s Theewaterskloof Dam. Smart meters could slow water loss.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Smart meters may help water saving initiatives as the drought persists in South Africa’s Western Cape. It can help those who need achieve saving targets.
Modern desalination plant on the shores of the Arabian Gulf where the most desalinated water is produced.
Shutterstock
Desalination has been proposed as one of many strategies to deal with the water shortages. But the process is known to be expensive and harmful to the environment.
Women who don’t get enough to eat while pregnant face a high risk of developing common mental illnesses like depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, leads a campaign to clean up the city streets.
The Star/Itumeleng English
Early warning signs of a pending drought are difficult to recognise but cities will have to be better prepared for prolonged changes in weather patterns, so that it can respond quickly.
Marine Biologist, South African National Parks (SANParks); Honorary Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity