Theft and vandalism threatens Cape Town’s water security

Cape Town - Theft and vandalism at aquifer drilling sites and of general water infrastructure in Cape Town is compromising water security, the City said on Sunday.

“The City of Cape Town has been informed that theft from aquifer drilling sites is making it difficult for contractors to bring more water online timeously,” said Xanthea Limberg, mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, in a statement.

Tools, batteries, vehicles and any materials which could be perceived to have scrap value are being targeted.

Since July 2017 more than R5m worth of hydrants, meters and valves have been stolen or damaged, she said.

An appeal was made for anyone with information about these crimes to report it.

Link:https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/theft-and-vandalism-threatens-cape-towns-water-security-20180318

Source:News24

'The drought is real' - World Wide Fund for Nature

Cape Town - While the announcement that Day Zero has been pushed back was met with scepticism by some, a water expert has warned that the drought in Cape Town is real.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane announced on Wednesday that Day Zero might not happen in 2018, but only if Capetonians continued to save water.

There were rumours that the crisis was not as bad as it was made out to be and that it had been used to score political points. Hopefully it is not bad as it looks because it is not good at all.

source:news24

link:https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/the-drought-is-real-world-wide-fund-for-nature-20180308

You could be drinking your neighbour's loo water - City of Cape Town may take water saving to another level

Cape Town - Waste water from millions of lavatories, showers and baths in drought-stricken Cape Town will be treated and pumped into the massive Cape Flats aquifer - and will be used again for drinking water.

As the drought continues to bite deep, Capetonians have become used to reusing water in their homes, but drinking water that may have flushed your neighbour's loo will take water saving to another level.

This is so not healthy people, I feel sorry for the people of Cape Town. What strategies can they use? what can you advise them to do?

Your views are needed on this one.

source: news24

link: https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/you-could-be-drinking-your-neighbours-loo-water-city-of-cape-town-may-take-water-saving-to-another-level-20180307

The dark side of Budget 2018: VAT compliance

Cape Town - It seems as though tax administration and compliance have taken a back seat in the ongoing struggle to fund the revenue shortfall, Marilize Neethling, tax consultant at Mazars, comments on Budget 2018.

"In the past year taxpayers have experienced increased tax administration and compliance issues with the SA Revenue Service (SARS). Run of the mill transactions are queried ad nauseam by SARS in what appears to be an attempt to increase tax revenues," says Neethling.

These queries led to an increased number of IT14SD returns, objections and appeals by taxpayers.

The increase in VAT rate from 14% to 15% is a massive administration headache for VAT vendors, in her view. Vendors will be forced to, among other things, adjust their accounting software, keep track of transactions and invoices dated before and after 1 April 2018, and change displayed prices in store and on websites.

In her view, this will increase costs and the time needed by accounting staff when processing VAT reconciliations in the coming year. Special care will have to be taken with the monthly VAT reconciliations and return completion. Tax invoices received after 1 April 2018 must be distinguished from those received prior to 1 April 2018 and invoices must be checked to ensure they reflect the new VAT rate.

Source:Fin24

Link: https://www.fin24.com/Budget/the-dark-side-of-budget-2018-vat-compliance-20180226

Farmers relieved as Gigaba extends lifeline to water, agriculture

FINANCE Minister Malusi Gigaba has given South Africa’s drought-stricken agriculture sector a lifeline thanks to billions of rand that will be injected into water infrastructure, drought relief, support for emerging black farmers as well as land reform and rural development.

In his 2018 Budget Speech delivered in Parliament on Wednesday, Gigaba pledged to continue to work with local government and municipalities to respond to the severe drought that has strained water supplies to the almost 4 million citizens of Cape Town as well as numerous smaller towns and cities across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.


Source: Fin24
Link: https://www.fin24.com/Budget/farmers-relieved-as-gigaba-extends-lifeline-to-water-agriculture-20180223

Drought impact on W Cape economy worse than anticipated - minister

Cape Town - Compared to the previous season, aggregate income after costs in the agriculture sector in the Western Cape is estimated to have declined by up to R5.9bn. This is due to the lower output as a result of the drought.

The impact of the drought on the Western Cape economy cannot be sugar coated and is actually higher than previously anticipated, Western Cape minister of economic opportunities Alan Winde said at a media briefing on Thursday.

"We need the drought to be declared a national disaster and an allocation from the new Cabinet for infrastructure investment in our dams - like Brandvlei and Clanwilliam," said Winde.

"We will continue to invest in smart agriculture. Research is very important. A whole new water economy will come out of this [crisis] and we need to use lots of innovation in agriculture to ensure that the crisis enables us to remain competitive. You cannot compete if you have no products to compete with."

Agriculture and agri-processing contribute a combined R54bn to the provincial gross value added - a measure of all the goods and services produced by a sector. Of all the province’s exports, 52% comes from the agriculture and agri-processing sectors. 

Research indicates that about 30 000 jobs will be lost in the province due to the drought. According to Louw Pienaar, an agricultural economist at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, about 22% of rural jobs in the province relate to agriculture. Many of these jobs are for unskilled or semi-skilled workers. This means these workers will not easily be absorbed by the rest of the economy if they lose their jobs in agriculture.

Pienaar estimates that it will take between eight to ten years for agriculture in the province to recover from the impact of the drought.

source: Fin24

Link: https://www.fin24.com/Economy/drought-impact-on-w-cape-economy-worse-than-anticipated-minister-20180301