AREA FOCUS
Bultfontein community
stand by each other
A small pump house
makes a huge difference!
The 9 metre water tank with a
capacity of 127 000 litres.
Farming communities will know that water is life and it is the one thing responsible for
putting food on the tables for all citizens. In Bultfontein the community stand by each
other, as is the case with Senwes Grainlink Bultfontein Silo and Bultfontein High School.
By Aubrey Kruger
Senwes Scenario Editor
W
ater is a scarce commodity
in this little Free State town,
particularly due to the high
sulphur content of borehole
water in certain areas of town. Municipal
water can also make a huge dent in one's
income. However, the water at Bultfontein
Silo is strong and clean as a whistle. A
solution and a problem were identified at
the same time, namely clean water was
found, but the distance from the silo to the
school had to be bridged.
It has been very difficult to maintain
the sports fields of the high school until
2015. However, thanks to Senwes, the
governing body and the total community,
a solution was found. Chairman Fanus van
Jaarsveld said that everyone helped to
make sure that water could be supplied to
the sports fields.
The distance was bridged by a 50
mm pipe of no less than 1,7 kilometres,
from the silo, along the railway line,
down Dickens Street, right into Marquard
Street, down to the corner of Paul Winter
26
SENWES SCENARIO | SUMMER 2018
and School Streets. Two dams, one of 9
metres at the hostel and one of 6 metres
at the sports fields, with a capacity of 127
000 and 56 000 litres respectively, were
filled with water.
Senwes supplied the pump, the elec-
tricity and the water and thanks to the
excellent co-operation of the Tswelopele
Municipality, particularly the head of the
technical division, Kobus Keyser, the proj-
ect was most successful and it is a plea-
sure to practice sports. Two TLBs were
provided to dig trenches of 1 metre to
1,5 metres and the very necessary water
could reach the school.
Van Jaarsveld mentioned that the
school really benefitted from this project.
“We had to start from scratch with the
sports fields every season and huge bare
patches had to be covered with grass,”.
He was a committee member four years
ago and the sports grounds were his port-
folio. The sports fields are of the best in
the area now due to the water supply. He
proudly tells us that the first rugby team
ended second in the Sandveld league
this year, where they competed against
schools such as Hoopstad, Wesselsbron,
Theunissen, Welkom High and the
Kroonstad Blue School.
Silo manager Ina Strauss took me to
the pump house at the other side of the
silo, which houses the borehole pump.
To think that this pump can make such a
difference! She said that it is being used
for a good purpose and really benefits the
school.
The 25 metre swimming pool is also
being filled for the school's up and com-
ing swimming stars being developed
here. Watch out, Chad le Clos!
The community, producers and
agri-companies co-operate to assist
inhabitants, producers and children alike.
This is only one of the success stories of
Bultfontein.
The school's sports fields and hostel
are not named Carpe Diém Park and
House Carpe Diém for nothing. Make
the best of every opportunity and focus
on what the future holds. Well done,
Bultfontein - you really are setting an
excellent example.
* Share your uplifting story of how producers
and communities work together in your
area, with us by contacting Aubrey Kruger
at [email protected].