Saleem’s Story

Saleem’s Story 

Like many communities across South Africa, the residents of Ematimatolo in Greytown knew what it meant to live with uncertainty.

For years, access to water remained one of the community’s greatest struggles. Days without running water were common, forcing families to constantly worry about how they would cook, clean, grow food, or meet even their most basic needs. 

Among those carrying the weight of these challenges was Saleem [surname], the caretaker of the area’s local masjid. In a community where water shortages affected nearly every aspect of daily life, maintaining the masjid while also trying to provide for his family became increasingly difficult as food prices rose and opportunities to earn a stable income remained scarce.

“It was very difficult to enter the shops and buy food because things are so expensive,” he recalls.

In vulnerable communities, hardship rarely exists in isolation. A lack of water affects far more than thirst alone. Without reliable access to water, gardens cannot grow, sanitation becomes difficult, livelihoods disappear, and opportunities begin to shrink. Over time, these pressures create a cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to escape.

Recognising the urgent need for sustainable support, Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) stepped in through the Rural Access to New Opportunities for Water and Food (RANOWF) project — an initiative focused on improving access to water and strengthening food security in at-risk, rural communities. 

Anticipation steadily grew as IRSA teams worked to bring the borehole back to life. As progress unfolded, the community watched closely, knowing that reliable water access would not only ease daily hardships, but also create opportunities for households to grow food, improve sanitation, and rebuild livelihoods.

What may seem like a simple resource became something far greater: relief, dignity, and the possibility of rebuilding.

“The borehole has been able to help the community so much because we had been facing water problems for a very long time,” says Saleem. “Now, we are no longer worried about water. The masjid is happy and the community is also happy.”

But the transformation did not end there.

With consistent access to water, Saleem saw an opportunity to do more than simply survive. He began cultivating crops at home, planting tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and chillies using the water now available to him.

What started as a way to feed his household slowly grew into a source of livelihood.

Today, Saleem sells surplus produce within the community, helping to generate an income for his family while reducing reliance on increasingly expensive store-bought food. In a province where unemployment remains critically high, even small opportunities can create meaningful change.

“I am able to make a living out of this, while providing for my community” he says proudly.

But perhaps most importantly, Saleem’s journey has become a source of encouragement for others around him.

As his garden continued to grow, he began sharing his knowledge with neighbours, teaching others how to plant and maintain their own crops. In doing so, he is not only helping families access fresh food, but also passing on skills that can strengthen the community’s long-term food security and independence.

The rehabilitation of a single borehole did more than restore access to water. It restored opportunity.

Today, households in Ematimatolo are experiencing renewed stability through something many people elsewhere often take for granted: reliable access to water.

Saleem’s story is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with meeting a basic need. When communities are given the tools and support to sustain themselves, resilience begins to flourish. Gardens grow where there was once dry ground, livelihoods emerge where there was once uncertainty, and hope quietly returns to places that have endured hardship for far too long.

Through initiatives like the RANOWF project, IRSA continues working alongside vulnerable communities across South Africa to create sustainable, long-term impact — empowering individuals not simply to cope, but to build futures filled with greater dignity, stability, and possibility.

To support local initiatives just like this one, or to learn more about our developmental projects in South Africa, click here.