Western Cape Premier Alan Winde addresses the Joint Operations Centre as the province grapples with fuel supply pressures, Foot-and-Mouth Disease and declining dam levels.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
The Western Cape Government is grappling with a three-pronged crisis involving fuel supply pressures, the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), and declining water levels, even as authorities move to stabilise the situation.
Briefing the provincial Joint Operations Centre (JOC), the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) confirmed that fuel imports for March and April have been secured, easing immediate concerns about shortages.
Despite this reassurance, diesel stocks remain under pressure due to high demand, while isolated shortages have been reported. These, officials say, are linked to delays by certain suppliers in releasing fuel.
Premier Alan Winde issued a stern warning against such practices.
“All suppliers must immediately release full fuel orders to clients. Hoarding will not be tolerated. This is unethical,” he said.
The update comes amid growing anxiety over the potential impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on fuel supply. The provincial government has urged residents to rely on verified information, warning that misinformation on social media could trigger unnecessary panic.
Winde stressed that maintaining fuel supply is critical, particularly for agriculture, as the province enters a key production period.
“Fuel is essential to our economy, growth and job creation efforts, especially in the agricultural sector, as we enter the fruit harvesting and winter grain planting season. This sector is already under strain due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease,” he said.
On the disease front, the province reported steady progress in its response to FMD.
More than 50% of cattle in the City of Cape Town have been vaccinated, with over 140,000 doses administered across 477 sites, supported by 29 private veterinarians.
A total of 29 cases have been recorded in the province so far, with each triggering a coordinated containment response, including movement controls, surveillance, and quarantine measures under a 21-point intervention plan.
Meanwhile, water security is becoming increasingly precarious. Combined dam levels across the Western Cape have dropped to just over 45%, significantly lower than at the same time last year.
The provincial government is working with the national Department of Water and Sanitation to clear silt from infrastructure feeding dams and reservoirs to improve water inflows.
As the province heads into winter, Winde has again urged residents to conserve water, warning that sustained low levels could deepen the crisis.
Authorities say the JOC will continue to monitor developments across all three fronts as the province navigates the mounting challenges.
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