J-Bay delays water curbs to help visitors

Tight deadline to cut consumption after council agrees to introduce restrictions only next month

Kouga Municipality has delayed an instruction by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to cut back on water, due to an influx of holidaymakers descending on Jeffreys Bay.

This means water restrictions, together with punitive charges, will only be implemented from next month.

The decision to delay the move was taken during a council meeting in Jeffreys Bay yesterday.

Kouga mayor Elza van Lingen was asked to write to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to inform it of the decision.

Infrastructure, planning and development political head Desmond Peterson told the council that Nelson Mandela Bay was under strict water restrictions which meant Kouga was also affected.

“We know there was a directive from the minister to the metro to reduce water usage. For that reason we also have to reduce consumption.

“The recommendation is that the water restrictions be implement with effect from January 1 since we are in our peak season,” he said.

“Also, it is too short notice now to impose [restrictions].

“We as the municipality also must address a letter to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality where we inform them.”