Western Cape water crisis will hit regional economy

Significance

The Western Cape province has been declared a disaster area as it deals with its worst drought for over 100 years. The provincial government run by the Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned of the danger of ‘Day Zero’ when all taps could run completely dry. The province’s dire situation highlights persistent national problems of water supply and infrastructure neglect.

Impacts

• The DA will deflect some blame through criticism of the national government and the tainted minister of water affairs and sanitation.
• Worsening fiscal conditions in the National Treasury could threaten a range of badly needed infrastructure projects.
• A twitter controversy involving the Western Cape premier could lead to debilitating struggles within the provincial executive and the DA.