Solar water pump in Salem
A new solar-powered pump is helping to supply water to 13 families near Salem.
Yoruba Solar is a private company owned by two men, Xolani Kiti and Malibongwe Fondini.
They are determined to give back to the Grahamstown community and surrounding areas.
One of their initiatives was to supply Avondale Farm in Salem, which is 27km outside of Grahamstown, with a solarpowered borehole
Co-Director of the company, Kiti said that they visited 41 farms around Grahamstown and saw how people were struggling to get water.
“We chose Avondale farm because there are 13 families living here that are suffering because of little or no access to water,” he said.
Socio-economic developer and mentor, Darren Ryder commended the two men for their hard work in getting established and becoming sustainable.
The borehole is 80m deep and the pipes from the borehole to the tank, used to fetch water, are 420m long.
Avondale resident Freeman Pati said they used to have an electricity powered borehole but the residents of Salem stole the switch.
“Makana Municipality seldom comes to give the community water but since the Yoruba people came, life has been easier,” he enthused.
This solar powered borehole serves the 13 different families as well about a 100 individuals in Avondale.