GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Some 300 farmer and farm worker families in Wolwefontein and Kleinfontein are in dire need of help and it is for these people that the South African Water Warriors are currently driving a campaign to obtain support and donations from the public, businesses and volunteers.

The donations will be transported to these communities on Saturday 3 July.

Pieter du Plessis, Water Warriors coordinator from George, says there are severe water shortages. 

"Areas of the Eastern Cape that overlap with the Karoo, such as Wolwefontein and Kleinpoort, have been especially badly hit by the drought. It started in 2015 and is one of the worst in the region's history."

The area has been declared a disaster area in October 2019 and it has also been hit by a locust plague. "People lose their income, their farms, they lose hope. They start suffering from anxiety and depression, which sometimes leads to suicide," says Du Plessis.

"We will once again face huge logistic and financial challenges. To move one truckload of animal feed from a donor to farmers in need costs between R25 000 and R30 000. We also buy fodder with a higher nutritional value to help animals survive."

The Wolwefontein and Kleinpoort areas in the Eastern Cape have been extremely badly hit by the drought that started in 2015. 

In all their outreaches, it was the help of volunteers, companies and the public that enabled them to bring some hope to communities in need. 

"We again appeal to everyone to open their hands and hearts. During lockdown we have realised that it is easier to buy non-perishables in bulk to make up full hampers for each family. All other donations we receive are a welcome extra. A full hamper is R300 per family."

Contact Pieter du Plessis on 076 844 6435 if you want to help.

All donations from Water Warriors are free to the farming community that they visit. Volunteers cover their own travel and other costs.

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