EXECUTIVE MAYOR CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION AS NELSON MANDELA BAY FACES PROLONGED DROUGHT CONDITIONS
Published: January 21, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, has called on residents, businesses, institutions, and all stakeholders to urgently reduce water consumption as the Metro continues to experience declining dam levels under prolonged drought conditions.
Nelson Mandela Bay is a water-scarce municipality and is currently affected by a climate-driven drought. Persistently below-average rainfall and elevated temperatures have reduced inflows into the City’s dam system, placing sustained pressure on the Metro’s water supply.
As of 20 January 2026, the largest dam in the system, Impofu Dam, with a storage capacity of 105 757 megalitres, is currently at approximately 42%. Overall dam levels continue to show a downward trend, with the latest readings recorded as follows:
- Kouga Dam: 46.88%
- Churchill Dam: 50.93%
- Loerie Dam: 60.44%
- Groendal Dam: 89.24%
The situation is further exacerbated by high levels of water consumption. Current usage is averaging approximately 380 megalitres per day, which exceeds the City’s target consumption level of below 280 megalitres per day.
The Executive Mayor made the call during a site visit to Impofu Dam on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, where she reaffirmed the Municipality’s responsibility to act decisively within its mandate.
"As we call on residents and businesses to reduce water usage, the Municipality must also demonstrate accountability. I have instructed the City Manager to prioritise the repair of water leaks as a matter of urgency. A turnaround plan has been developed, and procurement processes are being accelerated to improve response times,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Municipality will continue to implement measures aimed at proactively reducing water leaks and water losses across the network. These include intensified leak detection, prioritisation of high-loss areas, and preventative maintenance of ageing infrastructure, subject to available resources and operational capacity. Reducing non-revenue water remains a strategic priority to preserve available supply.
Based on current consumption trends and in the absence of significant rainfall, the Metro has an estimated 246 days of water supply remaining. This estimate is subject to change depending on rainfall, consumption behaviour, and operational conditions.
Nelson Mandela Bay has previously experienced severe drought conditions, including the period commonly referred to as ‘Day Zero’. Through a combination of infrastructure interventions, demand management measures, and responsible water use by the Municipality, residents and businesses, the City was able to avoid system failure. That experience continues to inform current planning and response measures.
To strengthen water security over time, the Municipality has invested approximately R1.8 billion in water-related infrastructure and interventions. These include borehole exploration, replacement of ageing pipelines, leak repairs, installation of water management infrastructure, refurbishment of pump stations and treatment works, and the phased rollout of smart water meters.
Water security remains a strategic priority for the City, as it directly affects public health, economic activity, and the dignity of residents. While the current drought is climate-driven, mitigating its impact requires sustained cooperation between the Municipality and all water users.
While the drought has not at this stage been declared a local disaster in terms of Section 55 of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, the Municipality is actively managing drought-related risks in accordance with its obligations under the Disaster Management Act, the Water Services Act, 1997, and applicable municipal by-laws.
In line with Section 4 of the Water Services Act, the Municipality remains responsible for ensuring the progressive, sustainable, and efficient provision of water services, subject to available resources and prevailing environmental conditions. The Municipality is therefore implementing demand-management measures, infrastructure interventions, and public awareness programmes to mitigate risk and protect water security.
Any future escalation of regulatory measures, including the introduction of additional restrictions or the declaration of a formal disaster, will be guided by ongoing technical assessments, dam levels, consumption trends, and advice from relevant authorities, and will be communicated to the public through official channels.
"Water is a finite resource and must be protected by all. Every litre saved contributes to safeguarding Nelson Mandela Bay’s water security and resilience,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Municipality is intensifying water awareness initiatives across schools, shopping centres, community meetings, local radio platforms, and Integrated Development Plan engagements. These initiatives are intended to inform residents and encourage responsible water use.
"We are acting now to reduce risk and avoid further strain on the system. I urge every household, business, and institution to reduce consumption and use water responsibly,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The City reiterates that collective action between the Municipality, residents, and businesses played a critical role in navigating previous drought conditions and remains essential to managing the current situation.
Residents and businesses are urged to:
- Reduce daily water usage to approximately 50 litres per person per day.
- Repair household and business leaks without delay.
- Avoid non-essential water use and, where feasible, utilise non-potable water from authorised sources.
- Comply with applicable water-saving regulations and official guidelines communicated by the Municipality.
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