The Western Cape is grappling with severe water shortages and wildfires, prompting MEC Anton Bredell to seek a provincial disaster declaration. In Knysna, the main dam is at 15% capacity, leaving just 10 days of water. Broader issues include depleted firefighting budgets and infrastructure failures.
Since December 2025, a dry, hot summer has triggered wildfires across the Western Cape, burning more than 10,000 hectares in areas like the Cape Winelands and Overberg. Property losses include 35 dwellings in Mossel Bay, a guesthouse in Franschhoek, and two cottages in Overstrand, but no lives have been lost, according to Anton Bredell, the MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. "Yes, we’ve lost some houses... but we haven’t lost a life yet. The damage could have been much worse if we weren’t prepared," Bredell said.
Water supply problems compound the crisis, particularly in southern municipalities. In Knysna, the Akkerkloof Dam stands at 15% full as of 16 January 2026, providing about 10 days of water at current consumption rates of 12 megalitres per day. Garden Route dams are at 43.5% capacity, down from 90% last year. The Knysna Council declared a local disaster on Friday, enabling emergency expenditures and interventions.
Bredell plans to table a provincial state of disaster application at the Cabinet meeting on 21 January, which would unlock national funds. "It’s going to be difficult, but we will pull through if everybody works together," he stated. Short-term measures include tapping springs and seven boreholes for five megalitres daily, a private borehole for three megalitres, and Level 4 restrictions limiting households to 50 litres per person per day. Over 8,000 households bypass meters, contributing to 50% water loss from leaks and illegal connections.
Long-term challenges stem from outdated infrastructure built for 60,000 people but serving over 100,000, including asbestos pipes needing full replacement. Bredell highlighted management failures in Knysna: "It’s not only a water problem, but it’s also a management problem, a leadership problem." The firefighting budget of R15 million is exhausted, with ongoing blazes in Pearly Beach, Stanford, Oudtshoorn, and a 3km front in Swartberg. Weather forecasts predict below-normal rainfall for the next four months, extending the fire season.
The Garden Route District Municipality noted the "trauma" on residents and the staggering financial costs, praising the region's world-class disaster management built over 15 years, including 102 fire trucks provided since 2015.
