AfriForum and other organisations provide 500 000 litres of water to Kroonstad

3 July 2016

AfriForum, in cooperation with Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA), Halfway Toyota Fourways and the movements East Rand Stand Together and Farmers in Need, today delivered 500 000 litres of water to Kroonstad – and more water is on its way.

This comes after Kroonstad has been without water for a considerable time because municipal reservoirs and dams in that area have dried up.

AfriForum already placed the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on terms in June 2016, demanding that the department had to inform AfriForum of its action plan to address the water crisis in Senekal and Kroonstad by 19 June 2016. The minister of the department, Nomvula Mokonyane, did not respond to AfriForum's demands, with the result that the organisation will now possibly take the matter to court.

“Because AfriForum received no response from Mokonyane, we convened a meeting with the acting deputy director-general of the DWS, Ndileka Mohapi, on 20 July 2016 to find solutions,” said Charles Castle, legal and risk coordinator of AfriForum.

“Poor municipal management, together with the severe drought conditions, has left residents of Kroonstad despondent. The municipal pumps that were supposed to pump water from the rivers to the Kroonstad dam this year, had broken before the rainy season already and cables of these pumps were stolen as well – this clearly illustrates the poor planning by the municipal officials of the Moqhaka Local Municipality,” said Charles Castle, legal and risk coordinator of AfriForum.

“A large water leak was also observed right next to the Kroonstad City Hall. It is really disturbing to see that the local municipality makes no effort to maintain the infrastructure in this town – while the community is bending over backwards to bring about relief in this crisis period.”

AfriForum further aims to provide 90 000 litres of water to schools in the Kroonstad area from 4-8 in July 2016, which will bring total the amount of water supplied to the town to one million litres.

“AfriForum thanks WSSA, Halfway Toyota Fourways, East Rand Stand Together and Farmers in Need for their goodwill and willingness to assist the residents of Kroonstad and to take hands with AfriForum,” Castle concludes.

If members of the public would like to get involved with this initiative in any way, contact Caroline Sassen, executive director of WSSA, by 071 612 4171.

Join AfriForum today. Send the name of your town to 45342 (Gauteng South) or to 31481 (Free East) or send an e-mail to[email protected]. 

· Photos attached

· Click on this link for video clips of the initiative

Statement issued by Charles Castle, Legal and Risk Coordinator: Community Affairs, AfriForum, 3 July 2016