It is a common South African sight to see women, both young and old, struggling down the road with a drum of water perched on their heads. Those of us with the joy of running water will probably never know what this feels like. Enter Hippo Water Rollers – a novel way to transport water in drums that can be pushed along the ground. Brilliant, efficient, green! It gets a big thumbs up from Clevergreen!
WOMEN and children of Magojaneng outside Kuruman in Northern Cape will no longer have to travel long distances to fetch water. Banking giant Nedbank last week donated 600 Hippo Water Rollers, carrying a thirst-quenching five million litres of clean and drinkable water.
Water scarcity is a national problem, with most of the people who can access drinkable water struggling with carrying this valuable resource.
The idea is not an entirely new one, following in the back of a 2010 donation that saw Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga benefit from 900 rollers at a cost of R1.3-million. Last week’s donation was worth at least R1-million.
The rollers will reduce injuries to women and children, who had to carry buckets of water on their heads.
The devices can be easily pushed along the ground across different terrains.
Nedbank’s corporate social responsibility executive Kone Gugushe said the idea to donate the water rollers was borne out of the desperate situation the province finds itself in with regards to providing clean water to the residents.
“We believe that our contribution will improve their lives while ensuring that they get access to clean water ,” Gugushe said.
Ga-Segonyane local municipality, under which Magojaneng falls, welcomed the gesture.
“As the municipality, we’ve always emphasised that corporates such as Nedbank are very much part of the solution to most of the challenges facing our communities,” the council said.
“We appreciate the level of commitment that Nedbank has shown towards this municipality.”
By: Olebogeng Molatlhwa
The Sowetan