Ballito joins #AvoidDayZero

In true community spirit, Dolphin Coast locals have stepped up to help collect water for residents of Cape Town who are bracing themselves for Day Zero.

The dreaded day, brought by a crippling drought, is currently forecast for April 12 and will see the taps of over four million households run dry and water consumers queuing to collect a daily water ration of just 25 litres.

But in a true Ubuntu spirit typical on the Dolphin Coast, various organisations including the recently formed DA Dolphin Coast branch, I Move Fitness Ballito, Pam Golding at the Lifestyle Centre and Ashton International College have partnered with humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers in a drive to collect bottled water from around the country and deliver it to the national defence force in a campaign to #AvoidDayZero.

DA Dolphin Coast branch chairperson Privi Naidoo said that in just a day, more than 130 five litre bottles of water had been dropped off at HomeZone Ballito.

“The water collected in Cape Town will be just enough for a two-minute shower and my heart bleeds for these people. Not too long ago we too were affected by a drought but not to this extent. Owner of Shakers Cocktail Bar, Gavin Higgins dropped off about 100 five litre bottles.

“Anyone willing to donate bottled water can drop them off at HomeZone in Ballito between 8 am and 4 pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, people can contact me on 073 664 1830 and I will be more than happy to collect. My cutoff date for collection February 9.”

Also read: SA at risk of economic downgrade as Day Zero fast approaches

Last weekend, Pam Golding at Ballito Lifestyle Centre had collected about 20 litres of water. Their cut off date for collection is February 15.

Karien Bennett from I Move Fitness Ballito said her drive was a personal one and that she hoped more people would step in to help.

“I have friends from Cape Town who shared with me how difficult the situation is. I shared a post on social media last Saturday and so far we managed to collect 40 bottles of water. The cutoff date for collection is February 6.”

The mother city whose tourism sector, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, contributed 7.5% of the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016, current dam levels are at a low of 26.5 percent and the water shut down at residential areas will kick off when levels reach 13.5 percent.

There will be 180 water collection points that will operate for 12 hours a day.

While the crippling drought and high water consumption were to blame for the water crisis – scientist, environmental adviser and author Anthony Turton warned that a similar fate could reach provinces like KZN and Eastern Cape due to political infighting.

“South Africa is a drought-prone country so we have 350 years of embedded institutional history in dealing with drought. Sadly this institutional memory was wiped out in 1994 when everything from the past was thrown away on the mistaken belief that it was somehow ‘contaminated by Apartheid’.

“Water management is a technical issue, not a political one. Because it has been politicised we now have the problems we are seeing, because the technically competent specialists have been undermined, constrained or discarded in the journey to democracy.

“The crisis in Cape Town is rooted in the deep contestation between the ANC and the DA. The ANC is excellent at making a policy ungovernable, and this is what is happening.”

>>  Ready to say ‘I Do’ on the Dolphin Coast? Meet the team ready to advise, help and deliver on your big day.

>>  Visit our Education feature for a collection of all the best schools, tutoring systems, and even some colleges and training facilities on the North Coast.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram