AfriForum and WSSA implement emergency water plan in Cape Town
22 February 2018
The drought that has the whole country in its grip compelled the civil rights organisation AfriForum to come up with a water plan. The first phase of this plan involves the establishing of emergency water points in Cape Town to provide vulnerable people in the community with water when #DayZero arrives. The first water point will be erected at AfriForum’s sister organisation Solidarity Helping Hand’s donation offices in Cape Town.
Three water points are planned in Cape Town. The first is a 10 000-litre water tank that will provide water to people of the community daily on Mondays to Saturdays. The tank will be filled with donated water that complies with SANS 241 standards. The other two water points will each provide 20 000 litres of water daily. AfriForum branches will distribute water disinfecting products in areas where there is a risk of water pollution. Plastic bottles can be taken to these water points to be recycled.
“In addition to this project, AfriForum is closely working with Water Shortage South Africa (WSSA) in a bid to curb the water crisis. Communities should start taking part in their towns’ water management to prevent future water sharing and to ensure a more independent, sustainable water supply,” says Marcus Pawson, Head of AfriForum.
According to Benoit Le Roy, CEO of WSSA, the organisation is currently collecting bottled spring water in Gauteng from over two dozen drop-off points. The water was donated entirely by individuals, religious organisations and companies. Loads are consolidated by volunteers and sent to Cape Town by donated transport for distribution to vulnerable people.