Stellenbosch Municipality introduced Level 2 water restrictions at the beginning of March. However, many residents in Cloetesville say that they are unsure of how this affects them. The restrictions were a precautionary step taken due to concerns about dam levels and dry weather conditions.
Residents in Cloetesville shared mixed levels of awareness about Stellenbosch municipality’s newly implemented Level 2 water restrictions, with some stating they understand how they will be applied and others citing confusion over the daily limits. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
While some residents have said that they were aware of both the restrictions and the recommended daily water usage of 330 litres per person per day, others had only heard about the measures in passing, and some have said they were unaware of them entirely.
Residents’ experiences
Garfield Bergstedt said he was fully aware of the Level 2 restrictions introduced by Stellenbosch Municipality, and was familiar with the recommended daily water limit. “Nowadays everything is digital. The thing is, technology is not going to wait for everyone.” He added that while print would be an additional way of informing people, the primary method is through social media, where the municipality shares the information.
Marlon Davids said that he was aware that restrictions had been implemented, but was unsure about the specific limit of 330 litres per person per day. His wife had seen the information on Facebook. “We don’t use that much water, so it’s not really an issue for us,” he said, adding that it might be more challenging for households with higher water consumption.
However, members of larger households said they were unaware of the restrictions entirely. Zenobia Horne said that her family of 12 shares one water bill and that their current monthly water bill has reached between R2000 and R3000. She said limiting water use would be difficult for a household with many people, particularly during the current heatwave in Stellenbosch.
“There are many people here, children who may want to swim and people who work and need to wash. With this heat, restricting water is not easy,” she said. The response from Horne indicated confusion surrounding the details of water restrictions, as her family believed it was 330 litres per household instead of per person.
Horne also noted that not everyone has access to smartphones or social media. She suggested that a number of residents may have missed online announcements, and that ward councilors had not informed the community about restrictions.
Municipality perspective
Stuart Grobbelar, the spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality, said the municipality had used several communication channels to inform residents about the restrictions. “The restrictions were formally advertised on the Municipality’s website and formed part of an open council meeting [on 25 February 2026] accessible to the public. Information has also been shared widely through the municipality’s ward committee networks, where ward councillors distribute the information to community groups, churches and schools,” said Grobbelar.
In the municipal statement, residents were encouraged to monitor their household water use and ensure consumption does not exceed the recommended 330 litres per person per day. According to an article published by the national government, showering for over 10 minutes can quickly use over 100 litres of water, and each flush uses six to nine litres of water. To stay within the limit, residents should take five-minute showers, turn off taps while brushing teeth, fix leaking taps and avoid unnecessary outdoor water use.
The municipality also advised residents to regularly check their water meters to monitor daily consumption and prevent unexpectedly high water bills. They warned that households that exceeded the limit could face an increase in what they’re paying per litre of water, as well as being charged an additional tariff. If users completely ignore and overuse water, it can be shut off by the municipality until usage drops.
For more information on water restrictions and municipality communication, read SMF’s article.
Under the recently implemented Level 2 water restrictions in Stellenbosch, each person is allowed a maximum of 330 litres of water per day. This infographic gives you an idea of what that looks like. INFOGRAPHIC: Nerine Pienaar