A flood of goodwill water donations streamed into the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s doors last week following a widespread water outage across the Southern Suburbs that left the taps dry for days since Sunday 21 April.
“Here’s proof that heroes wear many faces and not all of them wear capes! When we were left without running water, it wasn’t Aquaman who answered our call for help, it was the everyday heroes among us,” SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abrahams shared with gleeful gratitude last week.
Communities affected by the water outage included Pelican Park, Eagle Park, New Horizon, Peacock Close, Pelican Heights, Strandfontein, San Remo, Bay View, Phumlani, Zeekoevlei, Grassy Park, Lotus River, Schaapkraal, Ottery, Wetton, Knole Park, Retreat, Heathfield, Steenberg, Elfindale, Marina Da Gama, Lavender Hill, Seawinds, Vrygrond, Parkwood Estate, Fairways, Southfield, Plumstead, Wynberg, Muizenberg, Lakeside, Westlake, Kirstenhof and Diep River.
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From these very communities, Abrahams continued, copious containers of all shapes and sizes holding much-needed water flooded in from homes across the city. This, in response to a Facebook plea, reached out by the society on Monday 22 April, stating: “We have 500 animals, including dogs, cats, horses and farm animals on site that need water and we would also like to help the communities where animals are left without water today.”
Detailing the donations, Abrahams added: “Some wielded their powers of creativity, using services like Uber Eats and Checkers Sixty60 to deliver water donations right to our doorstep!”
Others, like the Kirstenhof Community, joined forces, fetching and carrying water to a designated spot to be loaded and driven directly to their front door in Grassy Park.
But the heroics didn’t stop there, as Abrahams told about Pick n Pay Plumstead arriving with 200 l of bottled water, “and that while bottled water was in high retail demand!
“And then, a truck and bowser rolled in, delivering 2 500 l of precious drinking water directly into one of our water storage tanks.”
This was a true testimony to a caring community’s power to keep on giving as cash donations streamed in too. This helps the SPCA cover the unexpected costs incurred in managing the water crisis. “We sincerely appreciate each and every donation in every shape and form!”
