People stream to affluent Cape suburb for water, but residents say it's illegal

An army lance-corporal collecting water for his troops makes way for the older woman behind him to fill two 25-litre containers with water.

“Ma’am‚ I can see that you are more advanced in age than I. I will wait before I fill my next tanks so you can go next‚” he says‚ smiling.

Under the trees at the edge of a small river that runs through the affluent suburb of Newlands‚ a scene resembling an Old Testament well plays out every day.

Protruding from the ground at the end of Springs Way‚ a makeshift system of PVC pipes held up by wood and bricks provides a constant stream of water under the shade of a big tree. A mosaic of subtropical ravine forest in the background and a babbling brook complete the scene.

People drive from as far as Delft‚ 30km away‚ to collect water for drinking and household use and‚ even as the threat of Day Zero fades from the collective memory‚ as many as 7‚000 residents arrive at the natural spring every day.

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