Manzi drops in like it’s hot in Tafelsig

10 November 2025

Through vibrant skits and fun interactions, the City’s Water and Sanitation staff together with Manzi, their mascot, visited Paramount High School in Tafelsig to inspire learners about Cape Town’s plans to secure its water future through diverse water sources.

The visit formed part of the City’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the New Water Programme (NWP), which focuses on diversifying Cape Town’s water supply.
 
Through edutainment led by Manzi, the City’s beloved water mascot, Grade 8 to 11 learners learned about the aims of the NWP.
 
The programme covers water use, highlighting how water is used day to day; the natural and urban water cycle; water balance, addressing the supply and demand of water; threats and water scarcity due to infrastructure, climate change or population growth. It also delves into the four legs of the NWP, which aim to increase the City’s water supply by 300 million litres per day by 2030.
 
‘When young people understand the value of water and how to use it wisely, they become powerful voices for change. Their actions today will shape Cape Town’s water future. Let’s all continue to be water wise, regardless of the season or dam levels,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.

The NWP focuses on four key sources that together aim to add 300 million litres of water per day to Cape Town’s supply by 2030:

• Water Re-use: Producing 70–100 million litres a day from purified recycled wastewater
• Desalination: Converting seawater into 50–70 million litres of drinkable water a day
• Clearing invasive species and better river management: Recovering about 30 million litres a day from natural watercourses
• Groundwater: Securing more than 100 million litres a day through boreholes and springs.

The team also encouraged learners to use water responsibly and adopt positive water-saving habits.

‘The Western Cape drought that occurred ten years ago taught us the true value of water and the need to use it wisely. As a no-fee school, it is important that we work together to conserve water and keep our municipal expenses as low as possible,’ said Keenan Herbert, the principal of Paramount High School, who urged everyone to save water not only at school but also at home, in communities and throughout the province.
 
‘We are grateful to the City of Cape Town for supporting our school and promoting this important awareness,’ said Herbert.

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Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town