South Africans fight water shortage together
Find out how you can help those in need.
As the high temperatures and lack of rain continue to tear through the country, hurtling the country towards a possible crisis, more and more South Africans are standing together to bring relief to drought-stricken areas.
Two of the main projects aimed at bringing relief to suffering communities and farmers are Operation Hydrate and Water Shortage South Africa.
Operation Hydrate, spearheaded by former CrimeLine boss and current Global Communications Director at Crime Stoppers International Yusuf Abramjee, has achieved some incredible successes since its inception just a week ago.
The operation has already distributed 350 000 litres of water to affected towns in the Free State and Eastern Cape.
Abramjee said their aim is to distribute over 1 million litres of water.
“Operation Hydrate was formed by a group of volunteers last week, following urgent calls for drinking water by several desperate communities, and reports that some of those affected had even resorted to drinking sewage water,” said Abramjee.
Yaseen Theba, Operation Hydrate’s coordinator, said: “We cannot sit idly by and watch our fellow South Africans die of thirst. As civil society we have the power to make a difference and help those in need when we unite around a common cause such as this.”
“Water is life and together we are making a difference in the lives of our fellow countrymen and women.”
Abramjee said they are continually receiving calls for help from affected areas.
He also praised the involvement of Mango Airlines, who have donated R500 000 towards the cause, and to Shoprite SA, who have also donated thousands of litres of water.
Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA), another organisation aimed at helping not only people, but farm animals as well, is also asking for help
On their website, WSSA calls on people to donate water, either by buying bottled water or by filling up bottles, which will then be collected by volunteers.
Alternatively people can drop off filled bottles at drop-off points or in drought-affected areas if they are travelling.
Water donated in bottles that have been filled up need to be labelled as either DW (drinking water), which is for human consumption only, or as TW (tap, rain, or tank water), which is for livestock or sanitary use.
WSSA also noted that every truck they dispatched across the country on Saturday reached its destination safely.
To donate to WSSA visit sites.google.com/site/watershortagesouthafrica/gauteng and click on your province. The collection volunteers’ details are available.
To donate to Operation Hydrate phone Yaseen Theba on 082-494-2824 or Yusuf Abramjee on 082-441-4203.
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