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As rolling blackouts continue, public concern has grown at the possibility of an inconsistent power supply causing damage to critical infrastructure, particularly the dams, purification plants and distribution centres which make up the Western Cape’s water supply. While these concerns are not unfounded, the DA in the Western Cape is calling on local municipalities to make use of the resources made available to them by the Western Cape Department of Local Government.

As has been proven many times before, load shedding not only causes inconvenience and economic disruption, but can also damage sensitive machinery and infrastructure. Last month, the Faure water treatment plant plant in the City of Cape Town suffered damage due to loadshedding, and residents in the Swartland municipality are currently requested to reduce their water consumption as intermittent power supplies wreak havoc on the municipality’s distribution infrastructure. While events such as these are concerning, it is important that all of us work together to resolve the situation.

As has already been reported, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is well equipped to deal with the effects of load shedding, and has made contingency plans to insulate facilities such as hospitals and homes for the elderly from the worst of the power emergency. The PMDC has also worked to co-ordinate municipal responses to the emergency, and is monitoring the infrastructure and backup generation capacity of District municipalities across the province. Citizens of the Western Cape should rest assured that everything within the provincial government’s power is being done to lessen the impact of this national crisis in our province.

While it is not possible to fix an issue that has been created, exacerbated, and neglected by national government in Pretoria over night, the Western Cape Government is asking for the co-operation of its citizens to get through this crisis together. In all likelihood and as long as the ANC remains in power, load shedding will remain with us for some time. However, the Western Cape is working tirelessly to ensure that the impact is felt as little as possible.

Issued by Derrick America, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government