Thinking of Cape Town

I am terrified by the thought of drought in its most severe form. The mere thought of living without running water is very scary.

While Namibia has had its fair share of water shortages, we’ve never really had to imagine being without water completely. Life would be constrained in so many ways that would make it not only cumbersome and inconvenient but downright difficult to go about our daily lives.

Truthfully, I would rather be without electricity than water. We need water to live. To drink, to wash ourselves and keep our homes clean. To cook!

Sadly, our neighbours in Cape Town have been living with severe water shortages for some time and are facing the very harsh possibility of Day Zero, when the taps run dry.

It freaks me out and it should freak you out too because the truth is Namibians may have to face the same fate in future if we don’t learn from what is happening in Cape Town.

I cannot imagine the growing fear and panic induced by not having enough water and facing the possibility of living with even less than they have been.

I hope from the bottom of my heart that by the time you read this, rain in overflow has fallen down on the Mother City. A beautiful city and beloved holiday destination for many around the world.

So many learning opportunities and realisations have resulted from this ordeal, and they should make us wiser and more thoughtful human beings going forward. I believe this dry season is meant to be a real learning opportunity for us all. An opportunity to be more mindful and appreciative of the things we take for granted every day.

Not only should we come to respect and appreciate every drop of water we have, we must learn to use this precious natural gift more sparingly and thoughtfully.

I also believe this ordeal is meant to remind us of the gift of life and how we need to be more grateful for everything we have, and for being alive. Who can live without water? Our bodies are made up of 70% water, and we can only survive a certain period of time without this necessity.

Can you imagine what would happen to a nation if it runs dry? Can you imagine how disruptive and chaotic things could turn? The suffering, sickness and death it would lead to should Cape Town run completely dry?

Life would be destroyed. But I have faith that it will not lead to this and I pray the flood gates of heaven will open up soon, and through this, God’s greatness and awesomeness will once again manifest itself.

Perhaps we are too ignorant of His existence and reality, and sometimes need to be reminded that we have a higher source, and that we are dependent on Him.

Tests and trials are part of life and serve a purpose – to restore our faith in God and to realise our dependency on Him. So perhaps this is also one of those times when God wants not only the citizens of Cape Town, but also the rest of us, to turn our eyes back to Him?

Gents, it is impossible to think of what our neighbours are going through without experiencing a pinch in the heart. And for those who go down on their knees every night and pray before they sleep, remember them in your prayers.

Let us learn from this. Let’s appreciate what we have, and learn to use something as critical as water with more care. Let’s also be mindful and more grateful for the gift of life and everything in it that we need to enjoy and live life to the fullest.

Love more. Appreciate more. Be thankful. Stop taking things for granted. Cherish the gift of life and every beautiful thing in it.

To those in the Cape, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep the faith and don’t stop praying!

Till next time, cheers!

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.