Sithandiwe Velaphi

For Noncedile Tshawe, 53, from Cabekwane location in Goso village in Lusikisiki, water has been an ongoing struggle. She has to fetch her daily requirements from the river for her family of seven.

Tshawe said she walked an hour to the river and back just to get water using a 20-litre bucket, which she carried on her head. The road between the river and Cabekwane location was mountainous and forested, said Tshawe.

“I need 60 litres of water every day and I had to walk six hours a day to get water,” said Tshawe,

On Thursday, Tshawe’s struggles were solved after Nedbank donated 600 Hippo water rollers to elderly people and child-headed households from 12 villages in Ingquza Hill Municipality under which the towns of Lusikisiki and Flagstaff fall.

The donation means that Tshawe and other women and the children in the area can just use one water roller, each carrying 90 litres, to fetch water from the river and store it at home for several days before they go to the river again.

“I am so glad that I will only go once to the river and skip other days. These rollers are so huge we will have more water,” said Tshawe.

The rollers can be easily pushed across any terrain, reducing the chances of physical injuries which can occur especially to women and children who often have to carry water on their heads.

Among the roller recipients was Nolizwi Sibakwa, a Grade 11 pupil from Cabekwane, who has had to raise her siblings since Grade 2.

She has to travel more than 1km every day to fetch water for washing and cooking. “I am so grateful for the roller. We have struggled,” said Sibakwa.

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