Joburg takes water to Senekal
15 January 2016
The City of Johannesburg has thrown its weight behind efforts to assist Senekal, a North West town whose taps have run dry in the wake of the devastating drought gripping the country.
On Wednesday January 13, in sweltering heat, more than 30 Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers and other volunteers descended on a warehouse in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, to help offload thousands of bottles of water destined for the drought-stricken town and surrounding areas.
The volunteer programme was started during the festive season after the media reported that people and livestock in the area were in desperate need of water as a result of the crippling drought. Operation Hydrate, as the programme is called, has since evolved into a nationwide campaign mobilising resources to assist the town’s residents. Corporate South Africa and ordinary citizens have responded positively to calls to help by contributing water, cash and other essentials. The first consignment of water was delivered at the weekend.
A more aggressive drive is now under way, with volunteers working day and night to collect, package and take the water to various central points.
On Wednesday in Fordsburg, JMPD Chief Superintendent Dan Machete and spokespeople Wayne Minnaar and Edna Mamonyane joined JMPD officers as they offloaded hundreds of bottles of water from a truck that had just arrived. More trucks were expected to bring extra water later. In a human chain, the officers passed down 2l, 5l and 20l bottles of water. Volunteers inside the giant tent neatly placed the bottles while those on the other side packed them onto pellets.
Several pellets had already been shrink-wrapped, ready to be loaded onto trucks.
“We’re here to help. This is a desperate situation. It’s our social responsibility to help. We’ll have teams of JMPD officers coming through to volunteer here for as long as there is a need for help,” said Supt Machete.
Minnaar concurred, saying: “We’ve to take water to the people. We’ll be here for as long as we are needed,” he said.
JMPD will provide escorts for the trucks when they head for Senekal this weekend.
Yaseen Theba, one of Operation Hydrate campaign’s coordinators, said the response had been overwhelming.
“We have stopped receiving water at collection points around Gauteng. We are now bringing the water to central points like this one so we can package it in preparation for delivery. Corporate SA has come to the party in a big way,” he said.
Shoprite, Virgin Active, Thirsti Water and other companies have offered money, water, transport and logistics.