South Africa is still struggling in the grip of a massive drought, and ordinary citizens and businesses are still doing what they can to alleviate the suffering of those in heavily drought-stricken areas as well as helping farmers with feed.
Operation Hydrate started as an idea by a few people to do something to help those who had no water and in just over a month it has grown into am monster effort which has managed to deliver in excess of 6.1-million litres of water to the most needy.
Over the past weekend more than 1500 volunteers assisted with water collection and distribution and preparing more loads for drought-stricken areas to be distributed to the four worst hit provinces.
Operation Hydrate has so far delivered 41 trucks and tankers filled to the brim fresh drinking with water to areas including: Senekal, Steynsrus and Qwa Qwa in the Free State; Swartruggens in the North West; Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape, and Zululand, Nongoma, Ulundi, Paulpietersburg and Vryheid in KZN.
The Minister of Water Affairs and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, said: “Had Operation Hydrate not helped in some areas, the situation would have been very critical. We thank you for the humanitarian efforts. It’s heartening to see young people also helping out. I was happy to have joined the convoy on Friday. Operation Hydrate is showing what Ubuntu is all about. It’s also social cohesion at its best. Madiba would have been proud of what you are doing.â€
While the taps are slowly starting to flow for a few hours a day in some areas such as Senekal, the water is undrinkable according to Operation Hydrate’s Yaseen Theba, who also says that new pleas for help are coming in daily from other areas where the taps are now running dry.
Operation Hydrate is working closely in conjunction with Government at all levels and will continue to deliver bottled water and tankers to affected areas for as long as is possible.
Operation Hydrate’s Fayaaz Moosa thanked the public for the ongoing support. “We have been distributing water for just over a month and we would not have achieved what we have without support from across the country. Please continue to donate. Let’s make every day a Mandela Day.”
On Tuesday, the Proteas will be donating water to Operation Hydrate at the one-day international between England at Supersport Park in Centurion, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) has called on fans to bring 5 litre sealed bottles of water to the match and to drop the off at the collection points that will be set up outside the stadium.
Rent watercooler and buy bottled watercooler from Living-Water. Get a watercooler and mains fed water cooler in London.
