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[FILE IMAGE]: Dried-out branches are seen amongst caked mud.
Western Cape authorities have warned of an impending drought across the province. The South African Weather Services (SAWS) is predicting lower than average rainfall for a second consecutive year.
The provincial Department of Local Government says water management systems are lagging behind in a number of municipalities, contributing to the extent of the water crises.
The Knysna Municipality has only days of water left with Premier Alan Winde requesting a Provincial Disaster Declaration from national government.
Winde addressed a media briefing in Cape Town earlier today.
“We have a number of towns that are definitely in the disaster space where they themselves are also calling for a local disaster. Now, we will be calling for a provincial disaster primarily because of Knysna where they are getting down to days without water. Also, you can see other towns in the region are under huge pressure in the Garden Route, in the Karoo. So, the disaster declaration enables us to put further emergency mechanisms in place,” says Winde.
