The Eastern Cape region of South Africa experienced a severe multi-year drought from 2015 through early 2020.
[3] A local hydrologist, Gideon Groenewald, has stated that it could be the worst drought the area as experienced in one thousand years[4][5] and has had serious negative socioeconomic impacts on the region.
[7][8] Reasons cited for the severity of the drought include poor water management by local government, unpredictable rainfall patterns,[9] and vandalism of local infrastructure.
[11][12] The drought has caused projected financial losses of R6.4 billion in livestock production, with extensive livestock areas accounting for some 5,600 jobs.
[13] The drought started to take place at the same time as the Cape Town water crisis.