The Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape has apologised to the Gift of the Givers and is in the process of determining how the renowned humanitarian organisation will be compensated for its work done in the water scarce town.
This after the organisation withdrew its services earlier this month when it emerged that the municipality would pay
R10 million to companies from Makhanda for drought intervention work, despite Gift of the Givers undertaking huge emergency relief
projects, including the drilling of boreholes.
They left the town, along with its Jojo tanks and filtration systems they had brought in to relieve the municipality’s water crisis.
The intervention had cost the NGO R15 million thus far, said Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman.
In February, the organisation brought in a specialist hydrologist who found drinking water at his first drilling attempt into a rock formation.
The organisation went on to drill 15 boreholes.
The municipality said it would not be reimbur-
sing the organisation, as it had undertaken to do the work at their own risk.
But it has now changed its tune.
“Currently we are in the process of trying to determine how we can compensate them for the work they have already done.
“Officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, the municipality and Gift of the Givers have assessed the work that has been done and costed it.”
The municipality also apologised for “any misunderstandings” and asked that the issues not negatively impact its relationship with the NGO.