AFTER THE BELL: El Niño is now the strongest on record — a war room is needed
This ‘super‑duper El Niño’ will drive a scorching, drought‑hit summer for South Africa, putting rural subsistence farmers, maize harvests and water infrastructure at severe risk. And it will all be made worse by ongoing state failure.
A scorching El Niño is now the strongest on record, threatening South Africa with a drought-ridden summer that could devastate rural communities and the nation's water infrastructure. Climate scientist James Hansen warns that this "super-duper El Niño" will bring intense heat and prolonged drought, even though its full impact remains months away.
The current El Niño already surpasses the intensity of the 1997-98 super El Niño, according to Hansen's calculations. South Africa's recent La Niña, which brought much-needed rain, has left soil moisture and dam levels high, but this won't be enough to cushion the upcoming drought. The government should establish a dedicated war room to prepare for the impending crisis, as state failure and ongoing corruption in the water sector will exacerbate the situation, potentially leading to water shortages and restrictions.
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