Release: Millions of South African children and the communities they live in are still in need of access to safe and clean water. These communities, especially in the water-scarce regions of Limpopo and the Eastern Cape continue to experience impacts of climate change, and the aftershocks of COVID-19.
22 March 2022, South Africa: Christian, child-focused humanitarian aid agency, World Vision, says whilst there has been a significant increase in the number of children and families accessing safe water in South Africa, millions more vulnerable children remain in need.
As government, cooperating partners and civil society organisations celebrate this year’s World Water Day with the theme “Groundwater: making the invisible visible”, World Vision South Africa warns that clean and safe drinking water availability is becoming less predictable for many families and communities.
“There is nothing as painful as being forced to drink the same water which animals also drink, the water may be contaminated,” said resident, Mashudu Mokwasi, from Sekgosese in Limpopo.
Shina, a 12-year old girl from Mbhashe in the E.Cape, understands the importance of close access to a clean water source. A year ago, Shina would have to walk long distances to fetch water. This affected her timely arrival at school, which negatively affected her school performance and exposed her to the dangers of being alone and often in the dark.
“I’m happy things have changed now for my family, myself and my community after World Vision South Africa installed a borehole, pump and tap within easy reach and sight of my home.”
Over the past 55 years, World Vision South Africa has played a vital role in the sustainable and transformational development of the most vulnerable communities in South Africa. We have courageously taken on the challenges of education, health, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), livelihoods and child protection.
As an example,World Vision South Africa has drilled 43 boreholes in 4 areas benefitting 95 431 people (see table below):
|
Area Programmes (APs) |
Number of boreholes drilled |
|
Mbhashe East London |
8 |
|
Nkonkobe East London |
6 |
|
Thusalushaka Limpopo |
26 |
|
Enable Limpopo |
3 |
In the past two years, World Vision South Africa, in partnership with The Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and UNICEF SA, launched a water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects which to date has achieved the following:
- Provided 40 Water storage facilities in central community points, including schools and clinics
- Installed 127 Handwashing stations in central community points, including schools and clinics.
Our partnership with EU in South Africa has influenced over 250 000-community members to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other WASH-related diseases in the Limpopo-Sekgosese, Sekororo; Free State-Thaba Nchu and KwaZulu-Natal-Greytown.
Bruce Layzell, the National Director of World Vision South Africa, says “We are inspired to work in the most vulnerable communities in South Africa especially regions that receive a disproportionately smaller portion of CSI and other funding. Our impact in these regions is made possible through our strategic partnership with institutional funders. Although much has been achieved, there is still so much to do. We therefore, call upon the public and corporate South Africa to have the courage to join us in fighting for our rural heartland and financially support World Vision’s work``
Please visit our website to donate or contact us at bruce_layzell@wvi.org to set up a meeting to discuss how you can collaborate with us.
For media inquiries, contact:
Moruti Pitso
Advocacy and Child Protection Manager, World Vision South Africa
Mobile: +27 64 686 4440
Pontsho K Segwai
Field Operations Manager, World Vision South Africa
Mobile: +27 82 553 7575