The successful completion of the Babatas Water Project, has brought the gift of safe, clean water to the Babatas community in Kathu, nestled within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Northern Cape. This has resulted in the improvement of the lives of thousands, making daily life easier and more secure with access to drinking water for both personal and agricultural use.
The children and staff at the Maiteko Day Care, in Babatas, are a perfect example of how lives have changed with access to this source of water. Speaking to the ECD centre’s supervisor, Oratile Rebecca Mmuseng, she says, “We used to have to fetch water from afar using the buckets and a wheelbarrow, just to make a meal for our children, but fortunately now we have clean running water for drinking, cooking and even have access to flushing toilets. For us, one of the most important thigs is that we can now water our trees and our staff can make breakfast for our children.”
The Babatas Water Project reflects the caring collaboration between Kathu Solar Park (KSP) and the Sishen Iron Ore Company-Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT). This shared commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the local residents, brings this essential resource to some 600 households, with the official handover having taken place on Friday, November 24, 2023.
The project included the installation of pipelines, storage tanks, boreholes, and a water treatment plant, all aimed at ensuring the community has a reliable source of safe drinking water.
Cheryl Persensie, Economic Development Manager at KSP, shared her thoughts on the project, saying, “Water is not just about hydration, it’s about nurturing communities. By supporting this project, we are contributing to the well-being of Babatas and addressing essential needs, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that matter to us all.”
The project, which launched three years ago, October 28, 2020, in collaboration with the Gamagara Local Municipality and the Babatas Community Property Association, is a testament to the positive change that can occur when communities, businesses, and trusts work together for a shared goal.
“In addition to being an essential element for agricultural production, nutrition and human health, water enables job opportunities in numerous key sectors across our country’s rural economy. This is a contributing factor to the Sustainable Development Goals and KSP’s development imperatives,” concluded Persensie.
