Does everyone know about water crisis?

Water, or the lack thereof seems to be on everyone’s lips! Local folk, that is!

What has prompted me to write this letter to your newspaper is that I became aware that we can’t just assume everyone knows about the crisis that we find ourselves in. Why do I say that?

Shopping at my local supermarket over the weekend, a holidaymaker happily doing her holiday shopping was loading dishwasher soap into her trolley, whereupon I remarked that she was lucky to have water (and pressure) to use a dishwasher . She looked at me blankly and said she did not know what I was talking about! Needless to say I was gobsmacked!

Which brings me to the point. Is Ballito really pulling all stops out to make everyone aware of the crisis we are in? Unimpressive posters on some street poles and a poster stuck on the gates to complexes is pretty pathetic in my opinion! Ballito has no water! We are in crisis!

Holidaymakers, folk who own holiday homes and have been away for a long time returning to have a holiday, or have rented their home out, people who are not in touch with all the developments in our town, need to be reminded of the situation. Are all managing agents doing their job and seeing that every home/unit/apartment has a flyer or notice placed under the door of the dwelling?

To the powers that be, why not make good use of that huge advertising board as you come into Ballito from the M4, rather having some non-descript advert on that board? Why not have something pertaining to water and the need to conserve and save and not waste? Something that hits home and makes every person aware? The body corporate where I live has informed us that a fine was issued for R23,000 for water over usage (and warned that this could be a regular occurance!). Not a bad idea to have flyers in Zulu handed out at the taxi rank.

Can’t but help think, and shudder, wondering how this big shopping centre that is being built is going to add to our water woes! Lord help us!

We need to take drastic measures for drastic times!

MARCELLE COMBRINCK

Ballito

I think Siza and the municipality have done pretty well in spreading the word. Not everyone listens – Editor.