Water scarcity unites people

MOKOPANE – The residents of Akasia proved yet again on Saturday that there is certainly truth in the words of the American author, Hellen Keller, when she wrote: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”.

They recently founded the Akasia Muslim Community Water Drive, after reading about the acute water shortages in Mogalakwena.

More than 50 residents took more than 3 000 litres of water to Bakenberg Village, some 50 km outside Mokopane on Saturday to relieve the Bakenberg residents’ water needs.

Bosveld reported last week about the continuous water crisis in all 179 villages around Mogalakwena compounded by the water scarcity, severe heatwaves and drought since October.

“Our country is currently in the grips of a severe drought that shows no sign of abating. This is how we were aware of the need for water and immediately knew we wanted to contribute.

“We started collecting water on 10 January and when we read about the water crisis in Mogalakwena the decision was unanimous to help these villages,” the Akasia Muslim Community Water Drive organising committee told Bosveld.

In one week they collected a total of 1 500 five-litre water bottles as well as about 3 000 litres of water in tankers and containers.

The residents of Bakenberg Village were very grateful for the water donation on Saturday and honest in saying their need for water was not that intense, thanks to the long awaited rainfall on Friday.

The organising committee said they are planning to help more villages and areas that are facing water shortages.

On Tuesday they already had another 1 000 five-litre water bottles excluding the 700 they already had and they were still going strong.

“We are definitely doing another drive to one of the villages on Saturday,” they said.

They welcome any assistance and input that will better the project.

They thanked the Muslim community of Akasia for their generous contributions and the volunteers for their time and assistance.

The committee had the follloowing to say in conclusion: “Let us be thankful for what we have and not take things for granted.

“A luxury for some is a necessity for others.

“Let us stand united and remind ourselves that there is great strength in working together.”

For more information readers can send an e-mail to the organising committee at akasiawaterdrive2016@gmail.com.

redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za