The 3,000 residents of Cwebeni village in rural Port St Johns are celebrating the installation of a new borehole that has restored access to running water after eight years without it. For years, the community’s 400 households relied on exhausting daily walks of up to 5km to collect water from springs shared with livestock.
The new borehole was funded by Bonitas Medical Scheme and implemented by Gift of the Givers as part of their ongoing commitment to community upliftment. It has been drilled to a depth of 200 metres, yields 960 litres per hour, and is powered by solar energy. The system includes two 5,000-litre storage tanks and taps for use both inside the Cwebeni Junior Secondary School and outside for community access.
Water testing revealed elevated levels of coliform bacteria, so ultraviolet purification lights have been installed to improve safety. Residents are also advised to boil water before drinking.
The project has brought much-needed relief to both the school’s 361 learners and the wider community. For the first time in years, households in Cwebeni can cook, bathe, and grow food in their gardens with greater ease.
The partnership between Bonitas and Gift of the Givers, established in 2018, focuses on addressing the needs of vulnerable communities, with a strong emphasis on healthcare and essential services. This borehole project in the Eastern Cape highlights their shared goal of improving lives by restoring dignity and creating healthier living conditions.
Looking forward, Bonitas has committed to continuing its support of projects with Gift of the Givers, particularly those focused on access to clean water and healthcare interventions.
For the residents of Cwebeni, the borehole represents a turning point, bringing stability, hope, and the promise of a healthier future.
