THE lack of drinking water in Graaff-Reinet over the past few weeks has shown what a few community-spirited people can do when they work together.
Financial adviser, Corene Conradie, was so moved by the plight of one family in February, that she started the Facebook group, Graaff-Reinet Water Crisis, and many families were helped. In the last two weeks, when many areas have had no water at all, Conradie has once again rallied support, in partnership with SANParks.
The tipping point was on September 19, when her friend, Rosemary Scheepers from SANParks, came across children and adults so desperate for water that they were filling buckets from a drain in Asherville.
“It was turning into a fight, and kids and old people were suffering the most,” said an emotional Conradie.
Scheepers explained that they would get sick if they drank drain water. “I told them to wait, and we would fetch them fresh water,” she said.
When they returned two hours later, the children were still there waiting. “They were so desperate that they starting drinking the water straight away,” Scheepers said.
Offers of financial help came flooding in and the two ladies drove around the townships, distributing water on Thursday, Friday and Monday.
“The need is big and your heartfelt donations made a massive difference,” Conradie wrote on the Facebook group.
