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Prayers needed as Cape Town's water cut-off date looms

by Tola Mbakwe

Cape Town is on its way to Day Zero, a term the city's authorities have dubbed which indicates the day all municipal water is turned off. It's currently scheduled for 16th April.

Sally Ann Creed, a Christian in Cape Town told Premier how people are coping.

"We're hardly having any showers and it's a heat wave as well," she said.

"All of us are getting charged heinous amounts to use any water. It's impossible to buy any water at the moment."

Authorities have said the water crisis is one of the worst the country has seen.

Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape, said it was the "greatest disaster a Western city has experienced since 9/11".

Mmusi Maimane, whose Democratic Alliance party runs Cape Town and the surrounding province, said residents must use fewer than 50 litres (13.2 gallons) per person daily to avoid the tap closure altogether.

Mr Maimane said aquifer drilling is accelerating and authorities will reduce water pressure in the municipal system in the coming weeks.

The city is working on securing seven alternative water sources to avoid Day Zero; however, six of them are running behind schedule.

Security forces would guard 200 water collection points where residents can pick up 25 litres (6.6 gallons) daily if the tap cut-off occurs, authorities said.

Providers of bottled water are being encouraged to increase supply so people have the option of buying water, and water tankers would deliver to homes for the elderly and other care facilities.

Creed has urged Christians to pray for rain.

"One week of torrential rain and we'll be fine for the rest of the year," she said.

"We're all calling on God for rain right now, because we're getting no rain and if we could have one week of rain it will solve all our problems."

Experts said the causes of Cape Town's water shortages include climate change and huge population growth.

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