RECOGNISING the needs of the community, Izinga Ridge residents co-ordinated their efforts to help residents in need after last month’s devastating KZN floods by donating more than 5 000 five-litre bottles of water.

Many residents around Durban were left without water for days on end after the floods resulted in major damage to the Umgeni Water infrastructure.

While the eThekwini Municipality introduced water rationing to some areas, some areas north of Durban, like oThongathi, still have no access to water, weeks after the heavy rains.

Vigan Govender, of the Izinga Ridge Homeowners Association said residents pooled together resources to deliver thousands of litres of water to communities through the Izinga Outreach Programme (IzOP).

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“Very early on we recognized the devastating water crisis being experienced in oThongathi and initiated a campaign to collect bottled drinking water. The campaign was launched in a short period, however, due to the determination and drive of the team and support of the Izinga community, in excess of 5000 (5 litre) bottles of water were collected for distribution.

“Our IzOP Team, in collaboration and partnership with the Civic Associations of oThongathi and churches in the area, walked the areas of Pensioners Cottage, Clifton Heights, Flamingo Heights, Belgate, Belvedere, and the Transit Camp to distribute as many bottles as possible. The pensioners and residents were so appreciative of being visited personally and water being delivered to their doorsteps,” he said.

Govender added they have other planned initiatives to assist with the water crisis.

For more information, contact Jeffrey Naidoo on 082 552 7758.