NMBM Mayor calls for divine intervention as city continues to face drought – NMBM

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Nqaba Bhanga went down on his knees in prayer for rain at the Impofu Dam as the City continues to experience severe drought for the past four years.

The Executive Mayor Bhanga was at the dam to assess the impact of the recent rains and water levels at the Impofu Dam, which is one of the dams supplying the City.

He was accompanied by Mayoral Committee Member for Infrastructure and Engineering, Thsonono Buyeye and senior officials of the Municipality’s Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate. 

In the past five days the combined dam levels were sitting at 11.97 percent, with the past rain they have since increased to12.17 percent.

Impufu dam holds 105,757 million litres of water in full capacity. Currently it has just above 16 million litres left. 

Before the recent rains Impofu dam was sitting at 15.79 with an increase to 17.12 percent currently. The City attracts about 33 megalitres per day from Impofu through a barge.

Five months ago the City reached its normal extraction level at Impofu. This led to a deficit of of water supply, affecting areas like KwaNobuhle in Kariega. 

A barge was sourced as a temporary remedy to the looming crisis. 

While at the Impofu Dam, Executive Mayor Bhanga said efforts, plans and strategies have been put in place through engineering expertise internally and outside to avoid dry taps.

“We are currently on implementation phase of a number of plans and strategies, including a massive awareness drive about the current drought and its impact, however we cannot be naïve to the fact that if drought continues, running dry is inevitable. That is why we need to continue to pray to God to save us from this pending humanitarian crisis. My visit here was also to humble myself before God and ask for rain,” said Executive Mayor Bhanga. 

He said that on Thursday,  7 October 2021 he will be hosting a press conference to brief the community of the City about work that has been made to avert dry taps.

Executive Mayor Bhanga will also make an announcement about interventions and partnerships that the City has made with the national treasury, interactions with other spheres of government to mitigate the impact of the current water crisis. 

For more information please do not hesitate to contact Communications and Media Liaison Officer Mthubanzi Mniki at 0713813779

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