Digging deep and spending big to keep taps running at Norscot Manor
The heritage and recreational site in Fourways is getting a lifeline after the Fourways Main Reef Rotary Club, along with a generous single donor, spent thousands on a new water tank installation.
“Norscot Manor really needs this.” That was said by Andrew Sanders, who donated a 5 000l water tank to support the historic site and its much-loved Secret Tea Garden.
Sanders, known as Drew, said the decision to donate the tank came naturally after he acquired it during a recent residential development project in Bryanston.
Read more: Norscot Manor receives 5 000L JoJo tank amid ongoing water cuts
Instead of letting it go unused, he chose to pass it on to the Norscot Manor heritage and recreational site, where ongoing water outages have become a serious challenge.
“It’s very under-resourced, and without the community and organisations like the Rotary Club stepping in, I’d worry about the longevity of this heritage site. The water outages here can last for days. It’s simply not sustainable.”
The initiative has been made possible through a partnership with the Fourways Main Reef Rotary Club, which committed over R30 000 towards the installation of the tank.
Plans are also in place to secure the infrastructure by caging the motor box, ensuring it is protected from theft.
“We do know that they are people in the area who cannot keep their hands to themselves,” said Steve Margo, a longstanding Rotarian, “so that is why we had to put some extra precaution, so that we do not have problems.”
Explaining the need for the project, Margo said the site has been battling frequent water cuts.
Also read: Riversands Primary beats water shortages with borehole power
“Water supply in this area is unreliable. We simply cannot operate without water, especially with facilities like the Secret Tea Garden that depend on it.”
Margo added that the club raises funds for projects like this through its annual art show, where community members, local businesses, and artists come together to support initiatives aimed at preserving the Norscot Manor.
Sanders expressed his gratitude to the Rotary Club for funding the installation, saying the collaboration highlights the importance of community-driven efforts in maintaining heritage sites.
“This is a place that needs to be looked after, and if we can all play a small part in that, it makes a big difference.”
Kaylin Sanders, the owner of the Secret Tea Garden, said she is excited about the project and they would no longer struggle during water cuts.
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