Among
the major cities of the world, this one is considered among the most beautiful.
It possesses a dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, Mediterranean-style
climate, fertile vineyards in the mountainous hinterland, and sandwiched
between Table Bay to the west and False Bay to the east. Equipped with world
class hotels, malls, restaurants, highways, and stunning scenery, it is a top
global tourist destination. This jewel of a city is called Cape Town, the
mother city of South Africa.
Forty
kilometres away to the south is the famous ‘Cape Point.’ Known in history as
‘The Cape of Storms,’ it was optimistically renamed ‘The Cape of Good Hope.’
This is where the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean meet the cooler waters of
the Atlantic. Until the Suez Canal was built, Europe had no choice but to sail
around the Cape en route to India and the East.
I
have been to Cape Town 3 times and it never fails to impress. One of the most
memorable experiences of my life was climbing Table Mountain with an
experienced mountain-climber: high and steep, you feel like you are in a remote
national park, but when you look down, there are the skyscrapers of a major
metropolis below.
After
three years of severe drought, Cape Town is about to get another distinction: Barring
a miracle of abundant rainfall, it will be the first major city in modern times
to run out of water! The city is serviced by 6 dams in arid areas. The
biggest is Theewaterskloof Dam which, at present, has no more than 12% capacity
of water.
Consider
that the city’s population has grown 79% from 2.4 million in 1995 to 4.3
million today, yet its water storage has only increased by 15%. This in itself
means the city was ill-prepared for a time of drought.
As
one who teaches on Bible prophecy and the last days, if anything conjures up a
poignant image of the end times, it is Cape Town running out of water. More
than ballooning western debt - which at this point seems abstract; more than
Middle Eastern tension, wars and jihadism - which we treat as if it is were another
planet, Cape Town’s water crisis hits close to home. The reason is that if it
could happen here, it can happen anywhere.
Waiting for Day Zero
Presently,
the citizens of Cape Town can only use 50 litres of water a day. Remember, the
average western home uses over 300 litres. If the rains don’t come, Day Zero
will. This date when the city turns off the water taps (faucets). It may be
in May, it maybe in June. After this date, the only way to get water in Cape
Town will be from one of 200 collection points, which will be supervised by the
army and police. Residents can obtain 25 litres of water, per person, per day.
It will be for cooking, washing, and personal care. The maximum amount of
people that can be serviced at a given collection point is 20,000.
Remember,
Cape Town is no third world metropolis. Its infrastructure and setting would be
the envy of any western city. Simultaneously a very European city yet
increasingly African, it is also a uneven city: there are multi-million dollar
homes and Babel-high skyscrapers in the inner city, inland suburbs, and the
coast. This where mostly white people live. Yet, in the flat inland areas are
the shanty-towns where poor people, mostly black, live. Rich or poor, white or
black, the paucity of water affects all them now, and will even more so if Day
Zero comes to pass.
As
far back as 1990, there were predictions that Cape Town could run out of water.
Desalination was deemed too cumbersome and impractical, and the one at Mossel
Bay was ‘mothballed’ due to expense. Cape Town is not run by the African
National Congress (ANC), but the Democratic Alliance (DA). This is considered
the white-influenced opposition to the ANC. The DA has some experience and
clout, yet it has not come up to speed in handling this emergency situation.
The DA has encouraged big money development but with this came big water
consumption, that needs to be reigned in. The ANC national government has not
helped, either. Water is under local governance, however, the bulk national
infrastructure is under the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Outside
help was available. Modern Israel has been innovative with water conservation:
despite its growing population, limited rainfall and arid climate, Israel has
sufficient water for agriculture and people. It regularly offers its expertise
to developing countries in Asia and Africa. In February 2016, Israel planned a
Johannesburg water conference in order to share its insights. Yet, the South
African government, which promotes the Palestinian cause and has excellent
relations with Hamas, cancelled the conference in deference to BDS (Boycott,
Disinvestment, and Sanctions Movement against Israel). It is possible that Day
Zero could have been cancelled had they been willing learned the lessons.
How Should We Respond?
First,
recognise that many cities worldwide could be exactly in the same situation as
Cape Town. Sao Paulo, largest city in the western hemisphere, is at risk. Ten
years ago Barcelona was on the brink. Australia can not be complacent at all:
Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne are particularly vulnerable.
Prayer
does wonders. In the Bible, church history, and today, prayer and falling rain
go hand-in-hand (I Kings 8:35-36). Remember, this is not just Cape Town’s
challenge: this challenge belongs to us all. So let’s pray for a move of God
and a release of rain.
From
a practical point of view, water is as any other resource, like time and money.
When supplies run low, there are two things we must do: reduce consumption and
increase sources. Water should be treated with respect and restraint. Long
showers, letting the tap run unrestrained while you brush your teeth, toilets
with only full-flush capacity rather than 1/2, are bad habits that need to be
broken.
In
ancient Israel, Herod the Great built the hilltop fortress of Masada, which
could house 1,000 people and had enough water for 1-2 years. This is in the
Dead Sea region where rainfall is no more than 5 cm (2 inches) a year, at most.
The ancient Nabateans built impressive cities across the arid Negev, with
plenty of water, though the rainfall was the same low level. They learned how
to capture and conserve every drop of rain.
We
need to learn how to do the same - rather than letting the rain water go into
the drains and out to sea. Avoid wastage, plug the leaks (sometimes up to 30%
of water is lost due to leaky pipes). Such commonsense methods can do wonders.
The
people of Cape Town, many who are Christians, have their chance to pray, show
resilience, and bounce back to full strength, setting an example for us all.
Let’s
give them our full prayerful support.
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