Tag Archives: drought

Video: The Cape Town water crisis isn’t over

Mike Hampton Posted on by

“People are going to die, and people are going to fight over water,’ states one resident. This is a video about Cape Town’s water crisis, featuring well known figures such as Patricia de Lille, Xanthea Limberg and Helen Zille. Does the water issue best display the differences between the rich and the poor? Or is the more relevant fact that incompetent government, both DA an ANC, has failed us? CAPE TOWN IS THIRSTY “Cape Town is running out of water but the catastrophe was foreseeable – politicians  ignored periods of … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna Municipality: Asbestos Water Pipes 50yrs Old

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Another summer of tormenting asbestos water pipe breakages for Knysna. It’s good news that the Knysna Municipality and Knysna Council have decided to give the matter their attention, admitting the pipes are 50-years-old, though it must be asked why it wasn’t made a priority long ago – business losses, tourist discomfort and drought failed to encourage them. In the 2016 holiday season, there were 287 leaks. The Public were ignored whilst rates increased and bonuses were paid. For years, the Municipality refused to respond to my queries regarding the age … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Drought: Knysna Requests Declaration as Disaster Area

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The drought in Knysna led the Council to approve the request to Eden District to declare Knysna a disaster area. The only voice of concern at the decision was COPE’s Elrick van Aswegen who wondered if “disaster area” status would affect the tourism based economy. The opposing argument is that it’ll bring in much needed funds from larger government. Last week, Eden District approved the request which means that it now waits for Cabinet approval. The Cabinet is made up of the President, the Deputy President and Ministers. DISASTER AREA … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Rampsgebiedafkondigings – Eden District

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Verskeie can die Plaaslike Owerhede in die Eden Distrik het reeds plaaslike rampgebied afkondigings aangevra. Die meriete van die onderskeie afkondigings wissel vanaf die verwoestende brande wat tussen Desember 2016 en Januarie 2017 voorgekom het, tot droogte in veral sommige landelike gebiede, asook ten opsigte van sekere dorpe waar daar tans water sekerheidsuitdagings bestaan. Hierby ‘n tafel wat die huidige status quo aandui: Town Local disaster situation Request by Local Municipality Supported by the Eden DM Approved by Provincial cabinet Comment Kannaland Agricultural drought situation. 27/02/2017 22/03/2017 Assistance is coordinated … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

The Rand Crisis

Mike Hampton Posted on by

I’m not an economist. The goal here is to make average people (like me) understand how dangerous our country’s financial situation is. Yesterday was the record breaking drop in South Africa’s currency. $1 cost almost R18. Currently, it’s R16.55 to the dollar. It’s not as simple as this but as a practical figurative (and for lovers of oxymorons), imagine saving up for a fridge for 1 year. When you start, it’s going to cost you R3000 but by the time you’ve saved that money, 12 months later, they tell you … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Brenton Haven Illegally Watering on Scorching Summer Day

Mike Hampton Posted on by

As i blog this, the real feel temperature in Knysna is, according to two different weather reports, 38C and 44C. Water usage is becoming a contentious issue as South Africa’s water crisis deepens. In my home town of Knysna, a traditionally water scarce area (don’t let the immense forests deceive you), broken water pipes and pumps are happening far too often and there seems to be no sufficient plan to replace aging infrastructure. The Knysna Municipality isn’t communicating the real deal to the public. The problem is scarily amplified when … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

South Africa Needs Water Angel Drivers

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Water urgently needed. If you’re a tourist travelling back home through Aliwal North or Colesberg, please carry a few bottles of water, anything from 300ml to 5l, so that you drop them off at any petrol station in the main road of the two towns. The roads are extremely busy so it would be a wonderful and easy help if each car had a Water Angel Driver. Aliwal has no water whatsoever and Colesberg is almost out of water. In fact, the majority of South Africa is in drought, the … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Drought Warning for Knysna

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Gerhard Otto, the Disaster manager for Eden District (which includes Knysna), has warned of drought after meteorologists have predicted less than normal rainfall for the next 18 months. Our water stocks are already low. All our rivers are low. Please play your part and use sparingly. Being able to afford a gardener doesn’t mean that you can’t water your garden on the designated days at night when it will be most effective. The Knysna Municipality needs to start enforcing fines. Hopefully long term weather reports will prove false but until … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!