The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) joined hands with Bloem Water to accelerate access to water to Communities in the Free State, Trompsburg in particular. The Department has been working tirelessly to provide water trucks and water tankers pre- and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Bloem Water played an integral role in building stands where the water tanks are fixed permanently.

Bloem Water has constructed and completed 185 stands and installed 178 tanks in and outside their area of operation in the Free State Province. Only seven (7) outstanding at Nala Local Municipality, Wesselsbron to be concluded. Tanks were distributed to Nala, Mantsopa, Nketoana, Phumelela, Dihlabeng, Kopanong, Mafube, Metsimaholo, Mohokare, Setsoto, Masilonyana, Tokologo, Letsemeng Local Municipalities (LMs) and Mangaung Metro Municipality. Each tank that is installed is recorded via a cell-phone application which is used to record coordinates of all tanks. The combined partnership and effort between the Department (DWS) and the Entity (BW) yielded positive results for the Province in terms of water service supply.

Trompsburg Community expressed gratitude and appreciation for the services received. Ella Thabi, a 71 year old pensioner from Trompsburg exclaimed her gratitude for the water tanks. “We used to fetch water from the SASSA offices and I struggled to walk that long distance”, said Thabi. The tank which is less than 10 metres from her house stays filled with water for their everyday needs.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic attacking old people due to their compromised immune system, were are constantly in fear for our lives especially because we are old, but with the water we get from the tanks we are able to wash our hands constantly”, she said.

Simone Jacobs also from Trompsburg said that they never go a day without water thanks to the tanks. “The people from Bloem Water fill the tanks like clockwork, we do not struggle with water” says Jacobs. She is aware of a bulk water project that is nearing completion and will be getting water from a tap in her yard. 

Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu has called on community members to guard water infrastructure delivered to their respective areas. 

“Let us assume responsibility and protect our water resources and avoid any form of vandalism. Let us join hands and fight COVID-19 and use these allocated resources wisely. While we wash our hands, let us remember that South Africa is a water scarce country and not waste water at our disposal”, she said.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation