Social unrest warning for South Africa as water crisis hits

South Africa may experience a wave of social unrest in the coming months as the country’s major metropolitan areas are increasingly hit by water shortages.

These shortages are also exploited by a so-called ‘water tanker mafia’, which profits at the expense of the majority of the population.

Political scientist RW Johnson said the water crisis South Africa is facing follows the trajectory of the electricity crisis, except that it is not so easily solved.

In terms of electricity, households and businesses can turn to alternative sources of electricity, such as rooftop solar or generators, to mitigate the impact of load-shedding and reduce their reliance on the national grid.

However, with water, the same cannot be done to a large extent. Only the extremely wealthy can completely reduce their reliance on the central water supply.

As water shortages become increasingly common, particularly in the country’s economic hub, local municipalities and the