Winde convenes emergency meeting a 'day zero' looms for Knysna

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the provincial government must start building long-term resilience into Knysna’s water system to ensure the town has enough water for the future.
 
Critically low dam levels are placing severe strain on the town’s water supply, with only days of water left in the system. 
 
Winde met with his provincial leadership on Wednesday, to discuss whether to declare Knysna a provincial disaster area. 

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Winde said the crisis highlights the need for urgent interventions, including alternative water sources, infrastructure upgrades, and better water management to reduce future risk. 
 
Winde explained that the municipality’s plans to drill seven new boreholes over the next month are a step in the right direction
 
"And they will be looking at more water coming in from the various systems, some springs, some new boreholes, so that we can make it sustainable, and that's about declaring a disaster if it's necessary and making sure that we get through this crisis." 
  
The disaster declaration will allow faster access to funding and resources to help stabilise the situation and protect essential services.