“Cape Town city running out of water” reported on (Bloomberg news) was the main headline causing panic notion gushing through the minds of many worldwide during the past three period years (2016) ago.

The Republic of South Africa was on verge of a precious resource depletion-water. This crises was an attribute cause of drought; a catastrophic dilemma which swept its presence felt across the whole southern parts of the African states. Mostly so, Cape Town, the dubbed “mother-city” was at central fore front of such occasion experienced.

However, the eastern coastline provincial parts existing within South Africa have too sustained the experience of the harsh phenomena’s harsh rippling effect. The Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Northern Cape provinces respectively, have been impacted and effect was dearly felt.

Mpumalanga province, the recent identified pollution hotspot in the world suffered severely.

Temperatures soar to an average of 45 degrees at maximum. Rivers and catchments ran dry. Dams dried-up to 30 % in levels. This resulted a drastic decline in accounted water resources levels in dam reserves such being that certain precautionary measures be enforced and set into practice and place.

According to research from the former Umjindi local Municipality; post several investigations and analysis, it was found that due to an increasing recorded number of heatwaves passing through considering  immense hikes of high pressure systems from the western interiors, the drought persisted and insurmounted to greater levels.

It was also found that other natural and human factors instigated such kind of effect. Pollution whereby community residents, industries (steel mills, power stations, mines, pulp and paper factories): Eskom, Iscor, Sasol, SAPPI, Anglo American and communities such as those of Emalahleni (witbank), Barberton (Umjindi), Middelburg, Secunda etc are the like are some best examples featured amongst others due to the cause burning of toxic chemicals, plastics, paper, fuel and cables released into the air and ground during industrial processes when refining chemicals, burning refuse,

Such also positioned as contributory factor as scientifically, post investigations by environmental health practioners: air pollution particulars released into the air “blocked” the atmosphere, setting the creating for heavy clouds (smog) which set as traps resulting for a congested atmosphere which didn’t allow proper hydrological processes to occur biologically properly so.

This phenomena resulted as massive pandemic, as a decline in the economic, social and governance instability was caused.

The agricultural sector suffered most with Local and provincial economic sector plunging. Farming practices were disturbed as substantial farming was hampered in soil neutrality and fertility.

In attempt to abate and alleviate the plight, by mandate: the local and provincial government accounted an incisive intervention. The umjindi Municipality (water& distaster department), and provincial government (Department of Agriculture, Land, Rural Development) and National Government( Department of Water) imposed conservation strategies, measures and mechanisms. 

This the local municipalities introduced household tariffs, water closure schedules and mismanagement fines; with the provincial setting grant reliefs and loans whilst the National Government set water disaster-relief tanks and conservation programs and adverts.

However, though the relief’s approaches were welcomed; the tariffs hikes weren’t. This was an approach which set to guarantee effective and efficient use of water. Community members threatened municipal bureaucrats of striking.

However, due to tariffs, fines, water resources in dams and catchments were restored to greater levels.