Sixty-three percent of organised business in Nelson Mandela said they were severely concerned that water security could affect operations, profitability and ultimately sustainability.
That's according to a survey of its members undertaken by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. The results of the survey were released on Wednesday.
According to the survey findings, 95% of the respondents were also concerned about so-called Day Zero in the Bay with 42% indicating that businesses will be closed and staff sent home.
“An overwhelming 94% of businesses want national, regional and local planning authorities to consider desalination plants in Nelson Mandela Bay as part of future strategies to ensure water resource availability,” the survey found
“Another 42% of Chamber members want the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to engage and lobby national, provincial and regional planning authorities to begin feasibility studies for desalination plants.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Nomkita Mona, has called for a water security action plan to be drawn up.
Mona believes the private and public sector, academia, environmentalists, planning and development officials and the broader society need to have frank debates and discussions to map a way forward and co-craft Nelson Mandela Bay’s “Bay H20 Security” a long-term vision and mobilization plan for water security for industry and commerce.
“This should look at the short-, medium- and long-term needs of industry, population growth trends, models of direct investment, and other integrated development plans,” she said in a statement.
“We can also develop an entirely new industry for the city through desalination plants in the city. This is an initiative which the Business Chamber is committed to pursuing.”
“We believe in long-term planning and should keep our eyes beyond the country’s Vision 2030. We need to strongly co-ordinate developmental programmes and future economic growth policy. These have to flow into each other and co-exist,” she said.
Mona said the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber will host the Bay H20 Security think tank and planning session in April involving its members, planning authorities, the municipality, and other subject-matter experts to jump start water-security planning.
“We plan to drive this agenda to ensure we see results and an acceptable level of water security. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has already started with the outreach activities to bring subject matter experts, government and the private sector around the table,” she said.
The NMBBC said that it will unveil its strategic five-year plan later this month.
“The survey was conducted between 13 – 14 February, and a relevant sample size of registered chamber members participated.”
