Town opens its taps for drought-stricken Senekal
While several areas in the country are experiencing the worst drought in decades, residents of this town united and donated more than 10 000 litres of water for distribution to Senekal in the Free State.
LYDENBURG – While several areas in the country are experiencing the worst drought in decades, residents of this town united and donated more than 10 000 litres of water for distribution to Senekal in the Free State.
Lydenburg Water Relief started as a Facebook post by Ms Jeanette Kruger-Hibbens. As soon as Messrs Aftab and Riyaadh Gaffar saw the post, they contacted Kruger-Hibbens and offered assistance.
This father-and-son team made contact with another water-relief group in the Free State and it was decided that the water would be delivered to the drought-stricken Senekal.
Kruger-Hibbens explains that a friend of hers in Hoedspruit was collecting water and that was where she had gotten the idea from.
“I contacted Water Shortage South Africa and it linked us as a drop-off point. My only problem at that stage was the transportation of the water. I didn’t have a truck or a trailer and that was when Aftab and Riyaadh came on board.”
On Monday Aftab phoned her and told her that the transport issues had been sorted out. He told the newspaper that he could not believe how the town had banded together to support this cause.
“The poorest of the poor contributed water from their houses. You have to keep in mind that it is not only for human consumption. There are animals as well.
“It is a national crisis. We are so grateful to everyone who helped and supported us.”
He said from the start he and his son decided to work with Kruger-Hibbens and not against her. “We joined forces and within
a mere three days, we collected more than 10 000 litres of water – and more is still being delivered. If you do good work, it will bless our town.”
Several bakkies and trailers set off on Tuesday morning at 01:00 en route to Senekal. All trailers and bakkies are branded with Lydenburg Water Relief signage and a huge banner will display the town’s initiative during their 587-kilometre journey.
The water will, once delivered, be distributed to schools, hospitals and households. Aftab said this was only the start and that this initiative would continue as long as there was a water shortage in the country.
The team would also like to thank each and every individual, businesses and everyone who contributed.
