Western Cape water crisis: Premier Winde urges urgent infrastructure investment as dam levels plunge

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has urged municipalities to continue installing and maintaining critical water infrastructure to mitigate a developing water crises in the province.

Dam levels in the Western Cape have dropped to 58%, with Cape Town metro dams at 66%, marking the lowest levels in years.

According to the City of Cape Town, current water usage trends show dam storage could drop as low as 40% by May.

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As of March, Knysna remains in a state of local disaster due to a severe water crisis and while recent management efforts have slightly improved water storage levels, the town continues to face the threat of "Day Zero".

With several municipalities in the Western Cape facing similar challenges, Winde has emphasised the importance of investment in water infrastructure.

"We are preparing for three years of drier summers and longer summers and that means we have got to mitigate this risk. That means long-term investments and making sure that we getting the right management into the right areas."

The premier also condemned incidents of vandalism and theft targeting essential water infrastructure in the province, saying that perpetrators will be brought to book.