Drought hits S/Africa Western Cape Province, worst in 113 years

South Africa’s Western Cape Province is experiencing its worst drought in over 100 years, with government urging residents to reduce water usage, local news reported on Tuesday.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille declared a “drought disaster’’, after dam levels across the province fell to about 20 per cent and little rainfall was forecast for the coming weeks.

The province would maintain disaster status for at least three months to ensure that taps do not run dry,’’ Zillie said.

The disaster classification enabled the provincial government to manage water services more strictly and re-prioritise public funds.

The last time the Western Cape experienced a drought of the same severity was in 1904.

She also announced plans to use a mobile desalination plant and tap the natural aquifer under Cape Town’s Table Mountain.

Residents have also been urged to use no more than 100 litres (22 gallons) of water a day.

Ms Zille said the disaster declaration will mean that authorities in the province can prioritise public funds for drought relief operations.

Two reservoirs in the Western Cape region are already completely dry according to official statistics.

The Karoo and West Coast areas of the Western Cape previously declared drought disasters in 2016, but Monday’s announcement extends the scope of those emergency measures to the entire province, the AFP news agency reports.