Day Zero is a terrifying reality that residents of Gqeberha could soon face. Fast-tracked by drought and poor municipal infrastructure, “Day Zero” marks the moment that local dams fail, and taps run dry.
The province is on red alert, reducing its water consumption and containing leaks but without immediate and drastic intervention, Day Zero will continue to loom closer. The threat of this water catastrophe will lead to serious implications for the country’s ability to produce food resources and sustain its population.
“Sustainable food security is directly impacted by the access and availability of clean, quality water,” reveals Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward South Africa (FFSA). “The years of severe drought combined with municipal mismanagement across the Eastern Cape threaten South Africa’s already fragile food security. Residents are forced to rely on roaming tankers where they collect their daily water supply to drink, cook, wash clothes, and bathe in.”
Annually, more than ten million tons of food is lost or wasted. To combat this injustice, FFSA is targeting the world of excess and redistributing resources to the world of need. The non-profit organisation has a growing fleet of refrigerated trucks that collect quality surplus food from supply chain partners – like farmers, manufacturers, and retailers – and redistributes it to under-served communities. This helps nourish more than an estimated 800 000 people every day.
Du Plessis says, “our trucks collect and distribute food across all nine of South Africa’s provinces. With this kind of logistical footprint at our disposal, we know we can help by transporting much-needed water to Gqeberha.”
FFSA is calling on all South Africans to take part in its national campaign to collect 100 000 litres of water.
Here is how you can get involved:
You can donate R20 via SnapScan, Zapper, EFT, or PayPal and FFSA will purchase a 5l bottle of water on your behalf. Alternatively, you can arrange to drop off a 5L bottle of water at a FFSA distribution centre closest to you https://foodforwardsa.org/contact-us/national-office/ or at one of these participating schools:
– Buccleuch Primary School – Parkville Pl, Woodmead, Johannesburg
– Robin Hills Primary School – 13 Kalk Ave, Randpark, Randburg
– Pinnacle College – 11 Candican Road, Barbeque Downs, Midrand
