NABEELAH MOHEDEEN
The Muslim Judicial Council(MJC), in partnership with the Darul Islam Relief Fund, donated 50 000 litres of water to the drought-stricken Loeriesfontein community in the Northern Cape, on Saturday March 12.
Three trucks carrying the bottled water left from MJC offices in Cape Town on Friday March 11.
On Saturday morning March 12, the Hantam municipality helped the MJC to distribute the water.
The chairman of the Darul Islam Relief Fund, Sheikh Irafaan Abrahams, said it had been a very emotional situation; the community was thrilled to receive fresh water. They had reached about 5 000 people with each receiving two five-litre bottles of water. About 50 to 60 people had gone up with the trucks to help distribute the water.
“The community was extremely happy and emotional, they thanked us and prayed for us. They only have water for two hours at night, from 7pm to 9pm. The children take a 500ml bottle of water to school where they receive water from their schools. People even came with wheelbarrows to fetch their water,” he said.
In an audio clip recorded by the MJC, Loeriesfontein resident Reneta Miller, who has lived there for 53 years, told of the community’s plight.
“The water is very limited here. On some days, there is no water for eight days, and when it does come, it is only for two hours, and then it is off for another two or three days. Our boreholes and dams are empty. This is a water crises,” Ms Miller said.
“We appreciate this kind gesture, it moves my heart. The children ask for water, and it hurts my heart because I have to tell them to only use a little because there is not enough water, so they can’t make juice. We have to work very nicely with our water in order to spare it. It is a wonderful gesture, we really appreciate it a lot because you have come from far to help us.”
The secretary general of the MJC, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie, said: “It is part of our religious obligation to assist the community in this water crises. We have to help them. They were so grateful and overwhelmed for the water.”