Amathole District faces catastrophic drought
Four out of six local municipalities under the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape are facing a catastrophic drought crisis.
The affected municipalities include Raymond Mhlaba, Great Kei, Mbhashe and Amahlathi.
The District’s Municipal Manager Dr Bhekisisa Mthembu says they have introduced water shedding to prevent Day Zero and has urged communities to use water sparingly.
“What we are doing to mitigate this situation, we are cutting water where necessary, we are communicating with the stakeholders to ensure that the water is used sparingly. We are also rationing water to communities so we can be able to reach out. In doing so, we are prolonging the worst-case scenario that might transpire. However, at this point we are hard at work creating awareness.”
BeWaterWise Save Water Before It’s Too Late!
Dear resident, Our dams are drying up fast due to ongoing dry conditions & unpredictable weather.
Please use water sparingly NOW! #SaveWaterSaveLives #AmatholeBeWaterWise#UseWaterSparingly#KeepingADMCommunituesInformed… pic.twitter.com/M4i2pTNVbS— Amathole District Municipality EC (@Amathole_DM) January 28, 2026