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#OperationHydrate spreads its reach

The NGO announced it will be delivering water to affected areas in the North West province.

A written sign for water collection in Laudium, Pretoria. Picture: @ProudlySA.
A written sign for water collection in Laudium, Pretoria. Picture: @ProudlySA.
| 2147 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - As the water shortage rock most parts of the country, Operation Hydrate has continued to deliver much needed water to drought-stricken areas like Senekal and QwaQwa in the Free State, where water has been a scarcity for over a month.

Just yesterday, the NGO announced that Swartruggens in the North West, will be the next beneficiary.

Thank you @Shoprite_SA for the transport- We are loading 4 trucks for Swartruggens tomorrow. #OperationHydrate pic.twitter.com/VdU25RjdMJ

The operation has also called for more water donations and urged citizens to use water sparingly as drought shows no signs of abating.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much"

To #OperationHydrate team who are making a diff #Respect 👊 pic.twitter.com/QOD2687lYx

Our nation, with a common goal, living the Madiba Legacy. 👊👍 " @Abramjee: #OperationHydrate Humanity in action! pic.twitter.com/K7bT5V13gj"

Water being transported deep into the rural areas near Aliwal North. #OperationHydrate pic.twitter.com/YEx3mokoKC

#OperationHydrate needs your help please. Contribute and let's get drinking water to affected areas. @HydrateSA pic.twitter.com/B0QbQOdOkb

People in Senekal have come running down the road to get water from #OperationHydrate. It's desperately hot here pic.twitter.com/jFrViTQSKO

The initiative started after a plea made by residents of Senekal, who ration 40 litres a day given by the municipality.

The NGO started as a call to the public to drop containers of water off at various points around Gauteng.

Corporate companies like Mango Airlines, Shoprite and Volkswagen SA joined in the efforts.

Earlier this week, the organisation got even more tankers of water to be sent to Senekal.

The NGO, together with corporate companies aim to deliver over 1,5 million litres of drinking water to areas which have been hardest hit.

Each tanker has the capacity for 10,000 litres and it said some communities in the Free State have resorted to drinking sewerage water.

It said the situation on the ground is distressing as people and communities are desperate for drinking water.

There have also been calls for national and provincial government to help communities who have little or no water.

Water arrives at Senekal! Support #OperationHydrate, make a difference! Retweet @Abramjee @ProudlySA @YusufOmarSA pic.twitter.com/erqfInpCCC

Team 2 All loaded #OperationHydrate on its way @yaseentheba @Abramjee @FlyMangoSA pic.twitter.com/mf80Hl8vXa

Taps have also run dry in Mookgopong (Naboomspruit) #OperationHydrate is arranging a few loads of water. @HydrateSA pic.twitter.com/BuXm0K1J7R

#OperationHydrate will reach the 1-million water distribution target tomorrow. Thank you SA. @yaseentheba @Abramjee pic.twitter.com/LgiB8LrWAb

@HydrateSA @Abramjee #OperationHydrate #senekal pic.twitter.com/X5WTq8ad1s

2015 THE DRIEST YEAR

The South African Weather Service has confirmed the 2015 calendar year was the driest year the country has experienced in 111 years.

The service says it has compared compiled data of yearly rainfall from January to December each year since records began.

In the last couple of months drought conditions across the country have seen a sharp increase in the price of maize as farmers struggle to meet demand.

Forecasters say while it's anticipated that South Africa will experience lower than normal rainfall this year, the situation could change at any point.

The weather service's Else de Jager said, "We've complied data from every province then combined that to have an average annual rainfall for South Africa and we can confirm that from January to December 2015 the total was the lowest rainfall."

God is good pic.twitter.com/r0uxnRQ8ND - #StopAlbinoKillings (@kuliroberts) January 14, 2016

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