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Thu Jan 07 14:07:00 UTC 2016
The Shoprite Group is reaching out and assisting various local communities that have been left without water and/or hit by water shortages as a result of the persistent drought that is plaguing South Africa.
Following an initial water donation made to the community of Aliwal North just after Christmas, the Group delivered 29 920 litres of water to the town of Senekal in the Free State this past weekend.
An additional two trucks, carrying a total of 49 280 litres of water, were urgently dispatched to QwaQwa on Tuesday, 12 January.
More trucks with water have been sent to communities in KwaZulu-Natal with 24 650 litres of fresh drinking water distributed in Ulundi on Thursday, 21 January and 45 000 litres of water was delivered to Swartruggens in the North-West on Saturday, 16 January 2016.
In addition, the Group is assisting with the transportation of water collected by South African citizens to affected areas. Selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets are selling water at cost price in areas with water shortages, whilst collection trolleys are also being made available in these stores for customers to donate water should they wish to do so.
The Shoprite Group has a long history of reaching out to communities when impacted by disaster. It is committed to supporting and strengthening all the local communities in which it trades supporting vulnerable people such as the elderly, women and children in the affected areas.
Shoprite Checkers were the first to donate water at Operation Hydrate’s Cape Town launch on 1 March 2016 with a total of 38 000 litres pledged. Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Tutu Foundation were also there to show their support.
To date the Shoprite Group has donated more than 300 000 litres of water and transported thousands more to assist communities left without water across South Africa, including (Vryheid, QwaQwa, Smithfield, Harding, Ixopo and others).
Article last updated on 1 March 2016
![Shoprite Project Thirst The Shoprite Group has donated and helped transport over 200 000 litres of water to areas affected by harsh conditions of drought in South Africa.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image.coreimg.jpeg/1504027152927/shoprite-drought-assistance-1.jpeg)
![Operation Hydrate Shoprite & Checkers Desmond Tutu Shoprite Checkers were the first to donate water at Operation Hydrate’s Cape Town launch on 1 March 2016 with a total of 38 000 litres pledged. Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Tutu Foundation were also there to show their support.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_857327264.coreimg.jpeg/1504027149591/operation-hydrate-shopritecheckers-desmond-tutu.jpeg)
![Shoprite Project Thirst Makhasana Primary School's pupils in Ulundi (KwaZulu-Natal) are delighted about the 24 650 litres of water Shoprite donated to this community on 21 January 2016.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_1012762253.coreimg.jpeg/1504027146951/shoprite-drought-assistance-2.jpeg)
![Donatio water Swartruggens The Shoprite Group has donated over 300 000 litres of water to areas affected by harsh conditions of drought in South Africa.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_255088137.coreimg.jpeg/1504027153992/donatio-water-swartruggens.jpeg)
![Swartruggens water On-route to Swartruggens with 45 000 litres of water to bring relief to the drough-stricken communities.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_1224637966.coreimg.jpeg/1504027153800/swartruggens-water.jpeg)
![Water donation Qwa Qwa The town of QwaQwa, in the Free State received 49 280 litres of water as donated by the Group on the 12 January 2016.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_102953905.coreimg.jpeg/1504027150736/qwa-qwa.jpeg)
![The Shoprite Group assists with water for drought stricken areas Calls to action is answered as 29 920 litres of water is dispatched to Senekal, Free State on the 9 January 2016.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_418107747.coreimg.jpeg/1504027135955/senekal.jpeg)
![Aliwal North Water Donation Shoprite Tholang Maphabole from Shoprite Aliwal-North assists in unpacking 1 260 litters of water in the Free State town on the 31 December 2015.](/articles/Newsroom/2016/the-shoprite-group-assists-with-water-for-drought-stricken-areas/_jcr_content/root/container/container/image_1187402077.coreimg.jpeg/1504027152704/aliwal-north-water-donation-shoprite.jpeg)