The efforts of the relief organisation, Gift Of The Givers to address the water crisis in Graaff-Reinet was dealt a blow on Wednesday following the theft of essential tools needed for their work.
Representatives from the organisation arrived in the Karoo town in the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality on Tuesday following an urgent request after the town's Nqweba Dam ran dry.
#ECdrought shocking footage of the Nqweba Dam in Graaff-Reinet which has run dry via @GiftoftheGivers @AlgoaFM pic.twitter.com/KwWcaUmh8v
— AlgoaFMNews (@AlgoaFMNews) October 2, 2019
They began distributing bottled water to thirsty residents and also drilled boreholes at a local school.
However, Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaaz Sooliman, said that when their team returned on Wednesday morning they found most of their tools missing.
He said the stolen items include rare batteries, drilling tools and spanners, as well as diesel and other essential tools.
Sooliman said this was a setback as they hoped they would have had their first water by morning.
"It is a delay because we have to wait for a few hours. We have to wait for new supplies before we can continue with our drilling. It delays our drilling for a few hours because we need to find water for people but these are the things we have to deal with," said Sooliman.
Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Bradley Rawlinson said although no case had yet been opened, police have attended to the complaint.
"The police vehicles attended to the complaint this morning after 6:00 am but there is no case which has been opened at this stage" confirmed Rawlinson.
