South Africa Allows Emergency Water-Supply Boost Amid Crisis
Protesters demonstrate against water restrictions in Johannesburg, on Feb. 11.
Photographer: Ilaria Finizio/AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s government gave the continent’s biggest bulk-water supplier an urgent license to take more water from a key river system that feeds its richest province to help stabilize supplies amid shortages.
Rand Water can extract 200 million cubic meters (7 billion cubic feet) a year more than its normal allocation from the Vaal River system for four months through June, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said in a statement Thursday.