05 Apr IDC Invests in Hammanskraal Water Infrastructure to Support the Community
Hammanskraal, Gauteng: The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and ForAfrika have collaborated on a multi-million-rand initiative to provide aid to the community of Temba in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. The community has been struggling with water sanitation ever since the outbreak of cholera in 2023. As part of this partnership, nine water boreholes will be restored and six additional water tanks will be brought in for areas of the village with underground water. This project will enable the community to access sufficient and drinkable water in the tribal authority land and Region 2 of the Tshwane municipality.
Hammanskraal, particularly the rural and informal settlement areas of the region, have been facing water-related issues for several years. The availability of water is inconsistent and unreliable, and the recent outbreak of cholera last year, which caused over 30 reported deaths, has highlighted the underlying challenges that have left the community in unfavourable conditions. One of the main challenges is the deteriorating infrastructure, which is further exacerbated by the rapid population growth in the area.
“We, as a development funding institution with a mandate to contribute to social development, have formed partnerships with various community-based organizations and NGOs who specialise in disaster management. Our aim is to help communities across the country that have been adversely affected by various disasters. Our partnership with ForAfrika is vital as it addresses a critical human rights issue – the right to clean water and sanitation,” stated Tshepo Ramodibe, Head of Corporate Affairs at IDC.
“We aim to tackle not only the water shortage problem but also the contamination and sanitation issues it has caused in the community through our partnership,” says Ramodibe.
The collaboration between IDC and ForAfrika is focused on providing safe and sufficient drinking water to the community while also promoting awareness of safe water practices and responsible water management.
The IDC has invested almost R43 million in humanitarian aid since 2022, with a significant contribution of close to R12 million in the current financial year.
“Our role in society goes beyond being a catalyst for the country’s economy. We are also strongly committed to assisting our fellow citizens with humanitarian aid. Timely humanitarian response and partnering with organizations such as ForAfrika are key enablers for us to lend a helping hand to our communities and provide relief where it is needed most,” says Ramodibe.
ForAfrika, previously known as JAM International, was founded in 1984 by the late Peter Pretorius. The organization initially provided life-saving nutritional relief in one country, but it has since expanded to deliver a variety of localized program interventions in seven African countries, including Angola, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, and Uganda. Their program interventions fall into six pillars: Education, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Food Security and Livelihoods, Economic Development, and Emergency Response. Their mission is to provide the necessary resources to unlock the abundance of Africa so that every African community can thrive.