George Municipality calls for disaster declaration amid severe drought

George Municipality has applied for local disaster status as dam levels drop sharply and water-saving measures are stepped up amid worsening drought conditions. The George Municipality’s has called for the municipal area to be classified as a Local Disaster Area amid worsening drought conditions and sharply declining dam levels, has been sent for approval. The council unanimously approved the request on January 29, with the submission now before the Provincial Disaster Management Centre for assessment.

Municipal spokesperson, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, said via a statement, that the municipality is facing “critical water shortages following prolonged below-average rainfall, which is expected to continue”. George’s primary water source, the Garden Route Dam, was recorded at 44.77% on January 26, a steep decline from 87.87% at the same time last year. The Haarlem Dam, supplying Haarlem and Uniondale, stood at 24.00%, compared with 85.42% a year ago.

Uniondale’s supply from the Kammanassie River has also been severely depleted, with limited groundwater available. Mangqwengqwe said the municipal area is being affected by both hydro-meteorological drought, reducing dam, river and groundwater levels, and agricultural drought, which is impacting soil moisture, crops and farming activity. “The disaster declaration allows for stronger coordination with the Garden Route District Municipality and other government spheres, access to relief mechanisms, and the implementation of short- and long-term measures to address water scarcity,” Mangqwengqwe said.