Sunday, September 8, 2024
The ongoing water crisis along the South Coast, stretching from Pumula Beach to Port Edward, has severely affected both tourism and local residents in the Ugu District, with no sustainable solution in sight.
Pauline Lee, general manager of The Waffle House Ramsgate, expressed her frustration with the situation, explaining how the restaurant has had to allocate significant funds toward securing alternative water sources, diverting resources away from essential service improvements. “We’ve had to rely on water tankers every two days, even during off-peak times,” Lee explained. During the holiday season, the water demand spikes, making the situation more challenging.
The Waffle House consumes over 10,000 liters of water every two days during off-peak periods, with that number increasing to 80,000 liters during peak season. Each water tanker costs R3,200, with prices fluctuating depending on demand. To cope with these expenses, Lee said they had installed eco-friendly water purifiers to keep operations running smoothly.
Impact on Tourism
Brett Tungay, chairman of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), highlighted the significant toll the water crisis has taken on tourism in the region. “The crisis impacts local establishments more than tourists, as visitors can choose other destinations, but businesses here must find ways to stay afloat,” Tungay said. Many hospitality businesses have resorted to installing water tanks or boreholes to mitigate the shortages.
Tungay added that FEDHASA has been in talks with various government bodies, including the new MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, in an effort to resolve the water issues. However, the Margate Hotel’s general manager, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that they spend up to R10,000 on water during busy weekends when their backup water supply from JoJo tanks runs out.
Frustration Among Residents
Local residents have also voiced their frustrations. Alta O’Kelly, a resident of Uvongo, has been struggling for over two years to get Ugu and the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality to repair a water pipe, leading to deteriorating road conditions. Another resident, pensioner Anne Selmer-Olsen, shared her experience of having water only 36 to 48 hours per week over the past five years, a situation that complicates her husband’s medical needs.
Sandi Johnston, a small business owner who runs a guesthouse in Ramsgate, criticized Ugu Municipality for its failures, pointing to high water bills despite receiving no water and sewage issues threatening the environment. “We’re paying for air due to faulty meters, and Ugu’s incompetence is driving tourists away,” Johnston said.
Former Sunday Tribune editor Peter Davis, who also suffered from water-related property losses, attributed the issues to financial mismanagement by Ugu Municipality. Davis explained that he sold his Marina Beach property due to persistent water issues and the municipality’s misallocation of funds. He noted that despite the municipality blaming Eskom blackouts for water problems, the South Coast has not experienced load shedding in recent weeks, yet water disruptions continue.
Tags: africa tourism news, durban, Durban Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal, Margate, Port Edward, Pumula Beach, South Africa, South Africa Tourism News, south coast, Southern Africa tourism, Tourism, Tourism news, Travel, Travel News, Ugu District, Ugu District tourism
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