Water restrictions extended to nine KZN municipalities

Residents of nine drought-stricken district municipalities in KZN have been urged not to fill their swimming pools, wash their cars and water their gardens as the provincial government struggles to ensure water security in the province.

While the Dolphin Coast has been under water restrictions since September last year, this week Ilembe, Uthungulu, Ugu, Umkhanyakude, Uthukela, Harry Gwala, Zululand, uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu District Municipalities were asked to cut down or face “harsh consequences”.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, was addressing a media briefing at Durban’s Dube Tradeport on Tuesday where she met mayors from across the province to discuss a drought relief roll-out plan, including payouts from R352 million in relief provided by the national Department of Water and Sanitation.

Ugu and Ilembe district municipalities were said to be among the hardest hit by drought.Dube-Ncube said the drought is getting out of control and the provincial goverment now requires wide-ranging support from the public to manage the effects of this natural disaster.

‘I have told all mayors of districts that are affected by drought to channel this money where it is required. Under no circumstances shall we allow this money to be under-spent. It is a drought relief fund and it must be used as such,” said Dube-Ncube.