So my wife and I live in Cape Town, South Africa. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. So cosmopolitan and interesting, do diverse and yet so segregated. One could say it is superficially beautiful and in substantial need.
When we started to tell people we were moving to South Africa and Cape Town in particular, the response was ALWAYS...'why on earth would you do that?!'
And perhaps this response was for good reason. The reality of life here is different to a European context. The reality of crime is different, but the most pressing challenge is the lack of water in a city that is growing at a rapid rate as a result of many African people seeking refuge from war in other parts of the continent.
The cities infrastructure is creaking and even though it is run by the generally competent opposition party, the water is the national governments responsibility and so water has become politicised, at the expense of people.
But today, it has rained. We haven't had a prolonged spell of wet weather in weeks and certainly not since Sandra and I have been here in Cape Town. We ended up collecting buckets of rainwater from the room as it poured down the guttering!
We've collected over 100litres in the space of an hour!!! If you think that our daily limit per person in Cape Town is currently 50l per day!
We count ourselves ever more grateful that we have water coming through the taps, and when I think that in the UK or Europe there is frankly a surplus of water. It is likely that the next big challenge facing us will be the running out of water. Here in Cape Town we have experienced a taste of what this could look like and it isn't pretty.
Businesses can't function. You can't flush the toilet or shower for longer than 2 minutes and not even every day.
On the other hand, it is amazing to see people pull together. Each day we see lines of people from all backgrounds lining up to collect water at the local spring and no matter how wealthy or poor you may be, EVERYONE needs water. It is a leveller and brings us back to the fact that there are certain things everyone needs.
Water is one of those things. I implore you to never take it for granted.
Enjoy your weekend!
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