Phalaborwa Businesses Fear Collapse Over Water Crisis

As South Africa prepares for this years budget speech, some Limpopo communities hope that resources will be directed towards fixing water infrastructure, so that they can access clean running water.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the Budget Speech tomorrow after it was postponed last month. The business sector in the small mining town of Phalaborwa fears that chronic water shortages in the area will lead to a collapse of their businesses and loss of jobs.

The area has been experiencing constant water cuts.

Gym manager Karel Reybrouck and restaurant owner, Corne Kaizer say buying water adds to their operating costs.

Nothing gets out of our JoJo tanks, from the reservoirs or the truck from the municipality. This affects the gym, restaurant and the doctors surgery. It is vital for the cleaning but theres no water. We get at least twice a day a thousand liter from water company in town, they supply us with water just so we do the necessary staff can be done. So, its almost costing us R4 000 extra monthly to get water so we can do small things that can be cleaned, Reybrouck says.