‘Project Thirst’ gets a boost

Published Feb 4, 2016

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Imagine a future where nature’s most precious commodity – water – is no longer within reach.

Where all the infrastructure and facilities might be in place, but there’s nothing running through them.

Where rivers have run dry and children can no longer run, because there’s no water to quench their thirst.

For many in several towns and villages in South Africa, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, they don’t have to imagine. And it’s not a scary glimpse into the future.

It’s now, and a reality.

As the worst drought in 30 years hit harder and harder, dam levels have dropped alarmingly and weather experts predict that rainfall will be insufficient to replenish our depleted water storage facilities, this year and next year.

This is why Independent Media, of which POST is a part, has launched the “Our Water” campaign, to lend support to the “Project Thirst” initiative of Shoprite-Checkers, which with other partners – Gift of the Givers and Unilever – is providing water and other assistance to needy communities across the province.

Shoprite will match every 5 litre sealed bottle of fresh drinking water donated by consumers.

All Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets in KZN are participating in this initiative by selling 5 litre bottled water at the lowest possible price and making designated collection points available in-store.

Donations will be distributed to drought-stricken towns in the province twice a week, specifically to community organisations supporting vulnerable people such as the elderly, women and children.

The Shoprite Group has in recent weeks donated and/or transported more than 200 000 litres of water to various towns in KZN, the Free State and North West.

This is just the start.

Over the coming weeks POST will be bringing you a variety of news and feature stories on the nationwide drought and the efforts to resolve the situation.

The Independent and Shoprite-Checkers campaigns were praised by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).

“This is an example of private sector involvement that we have been calling for since the onset of the current drought,” said Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube. “Government cannot fight this drought alone and it is heart-warming to see our partners from the private sector playing their part.”

The KZN provincial government and the KZN Cogta in particular, together with municipalities, have led the public awareness campaign about the effects of the current drought with some notable successes in bringing the water saving message to every home and business in KZN and in inspiring a change in consumer behaviour with regards to water.

“It has become clear that we need all hands on deck if we are to make a dent on the current drought and this is why we welcome and support all private initiatives to help wherever they can to alleviate the impact of the prolonged drought on communities whose livelihoods depend on the diminishing sources of water,” said Dube-Ncube.

It may not be an easy journey. But we invite you to make a start.

Today!

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