Army called in to get water to Free State town

17 November 2015 - 08:53
By Tmg Digital Reporters

The army has been called in to help get water to thirst residents of a drought-stricken Free State town.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) released a statement onMonday saying it had “been tasked to assist with the shortage of water in the Southern Free State town of Smithfield”.

Smithfield’s local municipality had asked the army to step in and supply water to the municipal water works‚ which the army began doing on Saturday.

Smithfield is a small town founded in 1848 situated in a rural farming district‚ and is the third oldest town in the Free State. About 5000 people live in the town.

On Saturday ‚ the statement said‚ “Seven water bowsers with a joint estimated capacity of 45 000 litres were dispatched to Smithfield under operational command of the Joint Tactical Headquarters Free State based in Bloemfontein”.

The army is expected to with the operation until the 30