South+Africa+OV

media type="custom" key="7969720" A mine came to a village in South Africa in 1992 and since then has caused major water shortages. The mine uses a great deal of water causing the villagers water in their houses to dry up. The villagers demand to talk to the mine managers to be a part of the decisions that affect their land and lives. Fields that were used to grow crops have dried up. This video captures the view of the villagers in South Africa and gives a different perspective on the issue. Video: media type="youtube" key="GLs_gFkStu0?fs=1" height="385" width="480" Lindiwe Hendricks, South Africa's water affaris and foresty minister address's the water quality problem. She states that the water quality from the dams, rivers, canals, and streams are more polluted than the tap water. There is theft along major rivers and dam contrusction to help with the water issue. This primary source was chosen because it is a direct opinion of a government official who is in charge of dealing with water issues.



Artifacts:
[|South Africa Water Conundrum] As a country South Africa is rich in many resources such as diamonds, gold and platinum. There is only one resource that there isn't enough of to go around which is water. This isn't a new issue for South Africa. The minister of water and environmental affairs for South Africa stated that a specific solution or invention is not was is truly needed. The citizens must alter the way they think and act upon the use of their water. A river has drastically decreased, as shown in this picture. The water line for the river appears to have been much further up the coast then where it is currently in the picture. This shows the drastic drought and water scarcity occurring in South Africa is affecting rivers, which in turn affects the people who live by that river. The river might have been a means or transportation at one point but it has receded.

[|South Africa's Water Shortage - The Future Looks Dry] In this article it gives the citizens of South Africa's viewpoints on the water crisis. One farmer has to sit there and watch his crops wither during the drought times. He says he knows South Africa does not have enough water for the future. Another women recalls the mile long walk she had to make balancing a six gallon bucket of water on her head just to get water. Now, a year later, the women only has to walk fifty feet from her house to a community tap where she pays 14 Rand for the water her and her family uses. South Africa's demand for water may exceed the actual supply within the next ten year.