Cape Town is experiencing the worst drought in over a century. Dam levels have dropped to 11% (in reality 21% as the final 10% has been deemed as unusable) and level 4 water restrictions have been put into place.

Dam levels have dropped to 11% (in reality 21% as the final 10% has been deemed as unusable) and level 4 water restrictions have been put into place. Levels are estimated to dwindle to 10% after weekly measurements are taken today.

The signs are showing right throughout the province. In late May, one can usually spot a patchwork of brilliant green pastures on the outlying farms beyond the northern suburbs, but now we’re faced with a dull, brown landscape. Once you begin to descend the other side of Sir Lowry’s Pass a healthy Steenbras river greets you every winter – sadly in 2017 this is not the case.

Where to from here? Derek Van Dam weighs in on the crisis.

Photography Adam Spires / Joshua Roode

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