EASTERN CAPE NEWS - Vodacom announced today (Tuesday 29 October) that it has committed R3, 5 million to the Eastern Cape government’s drought relief funds, aimed at assisting the province's drought-stricken municipalities.
Takalani Netshitenzhe, on behalf of the mobile company, told the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser that this includes the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality.
According to a statement released by Vodacom, the decision came after discussions between chief executives of Vodacom and Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane.
"We expressed a desire to partner the Eastern Cape government in tackling the current challenges in the water sector," said Takalani Netshitenzhe, chief officer for corporate affairs for Vodacom. "As a long-standing partner of government, we prepared a package of interventions and agreed on various streams of collaboration, including immediate humanitarian assistance."
The monetary support will assist Eastern Cape-based municipalities with a high drought level status, and go towards drilling and equipping boreholes, as well as the supply of water trucks.
According to the statement, other municipalities include Chris Hani, Amathole, Alfred Nzo, and Nelson Mandela, Joe Gqabi District and the OR Tambo District Municipalities.
“Given where our country finds itself currently, there is a pressing need to forge meaningful partnerships to deepen and accelerate the impact of our collective programmes and help to move the province and South Africa forward," Netshitenzhe added."
The Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality has been approached for comment.
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