The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber says the deepening water management crisis facing the Nelson Mandela Bay metro is not simply the result of drought conditions, but a water management crisis driven by the lack of proactive maintenance of critical water infrastructure.
Responding to the recent disaster declaration of February relating to drought conditions in the Eastern Cape, the Chamber says the situation confronting the metro reflects systemic governance and infrastructure shortcomings that have been allowed to deteriorate for years, placing businesses, residents, communities and the broader economy at risk.
According to Denise van Huyssteen, Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, the narrative that drought alone is responsible for the current situation is misleading and does not adequately address the root causes of the crisis.
“It is not a drought but a water management crisis. The continued failure to maintain and properly manage critical water infrastructure has created a situation where enormous volumes of treated water are simply being lost in the system,” says Van Huyssteen.
With unaccounted water losses now exceed 60% and more than 6 000 reported leaks across the metro, the Chamber says these figures illustrate the scale of the systemic infrastructure issues which undermines water security.
“This situation is not sustainable and it is not solely the result of drought alone, but is exacerbated by long-standing infrastructure neglect and ineffective water management.”
The Chamber warns that the deteriorating water situation now poses a direct threat to business continuity across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, logistics, hospitality, retail and tourism.
“Water is a fundamental enabler of economic activity. When supply becomes unreliable, it directly affects production, investment confidence and job security across the metro’s economy,” she says.
Urgent and sustained action is required to stabilise the water system and restore confidence.
“Emergency measures alone will not resolve this crisis. What is required is the implementation of an action plan to ensure the ongoing maintenance of infrastructure, as well as medium-long-term investment into the infrastructure. This should incorporate the filling of key vacancies, especially artisans and other technical support, as well as maintaining vehicles and other tools of trade.”
The Chamber also calls for greater transparency and accountability around infrastructure performance, water losses and maintenance programmes, noting that rebuilding public and investor confidence requires consistent progress and clear communication.
“As a business community we remain committed to working with the municipality, government and civil society to address the crisis. However, it is essential that the true nature of the problem is acknowledged and along with this urgent action is taken,” she says.
The Chamber further urges residents, businesses and institutions to continue implementing responsible water-saving measures and to install back-up water solutions to deal with intermittent water-shedding.
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