Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers, recently started drilling boreholes at Alpha Primary School as part of their interventions to curb the drought crisis and looming Day Zero in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Representatives of the organisation arrived in the metro and requested records of previously drilled but non-utilised boreholes in the area, with a view of progressing the 10 boreholes to 30. Project manager at Gift of the Givers, Ali Sablay, said that they are looking to resuscitate boreholes in the area by adding pumps to make them functional immediately, thus rapidly increasing water delivery to multiple areas within the metro.

“In addition, Gift of the Givers has sponsored JoJo tanks, supported by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and donors in general, and two 34 000L water tankers, provided by Coca-Cola, and will look into drilling boreholes at the Elizabeth Donkin Psychiatric Facility and other hospitals and schools. Additional interventions will be considered dependent on resources,” Sablay said.

He added that the organisation would also be working with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality on a series of urgent interventions to avert a humanitarian crisis in the metro.

NMBBC spokesperson, Sibongile Dimbaza, said that the chamber, in partnership with the municipality, will coordinate the efforts of local businesses that have volunteered to help repair the metro’s severe backlog of water leaks through an “Adopt A Leak” initiative which is in the process of finalisation.

“With leaks accounting for 29% of the metro’s daily water consumption, and a running backlog in which new leaks are reported almost as fast as existing leaks are repaired, accelerating the pace of repairs is critical to reining in water losses and conserving the metro’s water supply,” he said.

“Adopt A Leak” will work similarly to the chamber’s “Adopt A School” initiative, which has supported 46 schools and clinics to date with plumbing maintenance and repairing leaks, as well as providing alternative water solutions, such as rainwater tanks and boreholes.

Business Chamber chief executive, Denise van Huyssteen, said that the chamber’s key water crisis interventions – “Adopt A School,” “Adopt A Leak”, and various humanitarian initiatives – provided a platform for businesses to help mitigate the risks associated with the water crisis and would be implemented in partnership with Gift of the Givers.

“Taps running dry risk an unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis in the metro, particularly in the most disadvantaged areas.

“This is a time when we all need to stand together and work for the greater good of Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We have agreed with Gift of the Givers to openly share our plans and resources and coordinate our efforts, making the business and civil society response to the water crisis more efficient and effective,” Van Huyssteen said.

Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said that they had started borehole drilling within hours of their arrival in the Bay, focusing on disadvantaged areas in the “red zone”, at the most imminent risk of running out of water.

They will also be installing water tanks at these sites to be serviced by municipal water trucks, so that residents can collect water at any time without queuing or waiting for a water truck to arrive.

Water tanks will be placed in secure locations at schools, clinics, hospitals and police stations to serve surrounding communities.

“We have identified immediate projects that will most benefit the metro and we stand ready to do whatever is needed with the chamber – whether it is to act as implementing agent, interface with government or deploy funds into projects where they are needed,” Sooliman said.

“Funding for borehole pumps, Jojo tanks, drilling of new boreholes, and supporting the repair of electrical and mechanical equipment will speed up the water delivery process.”

He added that businesses contributing to the fund would receive a tax certificate from Gift of the Givers to enable donations’ tax deductions.

“Daily consumption currently stands at 281ML a day, which is 51ML a day above the targeted consumption levels. It is vital that consumers immediately reduce their consumption levels. In tandem with this, the leak situation is still dire and this is where we will be focusing, along with boreholes, pump water treatment plants, rainwater harvesting, and repairing or upgrading pumps at dams.

“At the same time, residents and businesses still need to cut water consumption, implement solutions such as rainwater tanks, and also search for leaks on their own premises. It is vital that all stakeholders pull together to reduce the severity of the water crisis,” Van Huyssteen said.

Adding to this, Sablay said that a special thanks goes out to Sunfoil Oil for contributing R5 million towards the drilling of boreholes.

“The support of corporates will be welcomed for this emergency situation. Success can only be achieved if all of us work together in harmony and a spirit of co-operation.”

Businesses willing to volunteer expertise and resources, or contribute to the Water Crisis Fund, can contact the Business Chamber on 041 373 1122 or email taskteams@nmbbusinesschamber.co.za.

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