Cape Town - Disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers on Monday said it would begin its mission to assist the drought-stricken Free State.
Founder of the organisation Dr Imitiaz Sooliman said that following numerous enquiries by members of the public, an appeal for assistance was made on Friday by a representative of the Bethlehem community in the Free State, Dr Zuneir Adam.
Adam told Gift of the Givers that several areas remained in desperate need of assistance despite daily arrivals of 260 000 litres of water. As the process to distribute the water took up to five hours daily, the need for additional water tankers was evident.
Worsening the situation was fear of the boreholes drying out and the high cost of bottled water.
Sooliman explained that now that Adam had placed a call with Gift of the Givers - a process which needed to be followed as the organisation was inundated with relief work throughout the year - they could begin assisting.
This assistance comprised of purchasing an additional water tanker, providing more Jojo tanks which had proven to be the most effective solution, paying for several boreholes pending a hydrological study, and - in the interim - sending a fleet of trucks with bottled water until more practical measures could be implemented.
The Bethlehem Municipality would also provide water at the subsidised rate of R1 800 per tanker.
Corporates have also come on board with Massmart and Vodacom being the first to do so. Massmart would also consider discounting water purchased from its stores.
Sooliman said that as this was not an exclusive partnership, other companies were welcome to join.
As for members of the public, bottled water could be contributed to the Gift of the Givers various offices or at Massmart stores countrywide.
For cash contributions, members of the public could contact the Gift of the Givers on their toll-free number 0800 786 777 or call Allauddin on 083 667 7179 or Salim on 083 651 2006.
African News Agency
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