The Cape Town Water Crisis: Day Zero and the Politics of Drought
The Story of South Africa: Empire, Apartheid, and Transformation — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
In 2018, Cape Town faced 'Day Zero'—the day the taps would run dry. This episode dives into the causes: three years of drought, aging infrastructure, climate change, and political failures. Lucas and Luna explore the role of dams like Theewaterskloof and the Berg River, the controversial water minister Nomvula Mokonyane, and the city's shift from a dam-dependent system to groundwater (Witzands Aquifer) and desalination. They discuss how Cape Town avoided disaster through severe water restrictions and citizen resilience—cutting consumption by 60%—and the lingering questions about inequality, agriculture, and climate adaptation. A story of crisis, community, and what comes next. #CapeTown #DayZero #WaterCrisis #Drought #SouthAfrica #Theewaterskloof #BergRiver #WitzandsAquifer #NomvulaMokonyane #PatriciaDeLille #ClimateChange #WaterRestrictions #Desalination #Groundwater #Agriculture #Inequality #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
