Court application to declare Western Cape a national disaster area
The Cape Party has filed an urgent application at the High Court in Cape Town to have the drought-stricken province declared a national disaster area.
The party wants Cape Town and the Western Cape declared a national disaster to free up emergency funds.
"Day Zero will be a total catastrophe from which the city will battle to recover," says Cape Party leader Jack Miller.
Miller believes that it is unreasonable to expect residents to carry the brunt of the water crisis.
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"This is the first natural disaster in history in which the victims have been forced to pay the costs. This is simply unacceptable and we will do everything in our power to force the government to cover the costs of this natural disaster."
The Democratic Alliance's (DA) leader, Mmusi Maimane last week announced that the day the City of Cape Town's taps are set to run dry, is set for April 16.
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Miller says the aim of the court battle is to force national government to make emergency provisions for the supply of water to the city and other affected towns in the province.