Government

More Level 2 water restrictions announced for South Africa as severe weather hits

Staff Writer

 ·13 Nov 2026

Following the announcement of level 2 water restrictions being implemented in South Africa’s capital, Tshwane, the Western Cape government has announced its own precautionary escalation.

The province issued an advisory to municipalities in the region to take precautionary action and implement level 1 water restrictions by 15 November 2026.

This should be escalated to level 2 by 1 December, it said.

The WC government said the restrictions are a precaution as the province is entering its dry season, is being hit by an El Niño cycle, and its dam levels are dropping.

Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, said taking measured steps early will preserve water before demand peaks between December and March.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Dave Bryant, said the province must face reality.

“Hydrological monitoring across the province highlights a steady downward trend in key water reserves, with the total provincial dam storage sitting at 77.7% as of 9 November,” he said.

“The reality is that the Western Cape is experiencing an El Niño cycle, bringing hotter temperatures, higher evaporation rates, and significantly lower seasonal rainfall.”

While total storage remains moderate, Bryant said dam levels are dropping.

Klipheuwel Dam sits at a critical 7.6% capacity, compared to 11.5% at the same time last year.

Steenbras Lower Dam has dropped to 44.8%, a sharp decline from near-full levels in recent seasons.

Major regional heavy-hitters—including Theewaterskloof (70.9%) and Greater Brandvlei Dam (68.5%)—show consistent year-on-year drops ahead of peak summer drawdowns, he said.

“Rather than waiting for dams to hit crisis levels, proactive governance requires acting while reserves remain adequate.”

“Waiting for dam levels to crash before taking action is a recipe for failure,” he said.

On Thursday, the City of Tshwane announced a full move to level 2 water restrictions across the municipality with immediate effect.

The restrictions will see households charged more per kilolitre of water used.

The Tshwane restrictions will be in effect for an initial 30 days, after which they may be extended.