The Gift of the Givers is to be partly compensated for the work it did in an effort to help drought-stricken Makhanda.

The NGO helped the town’s municipality with drought-relief efforts, for months.

However, after learning that funding would go to private companies for its work, the organisation pulled out.

Gift of the Givers said they met with the Makana Municipality on Thursday, where invoices were thoroughly scrutinised.

“We’re not sure what they’re going to give us, but we left it in good faith that they’ll make the right decision. Based on the next step, we can focus on the next stage which is compensation,” explained the group’s Imtiaz Sooliman.

In February, the organisation came to the municipality’s aid, drilling 15 boreholes, testing the water and then delivering it to needy communities.

Sooliman said that now that an agreement on payment has been reached, his organisation would terminate services in Makhanda.

“Given that it was emphasised that there is no further water crisis in Makhanda, that Gift of the Givers services are no longer required, we will be compensated to some extent in a manner determined by an arm of government and that the municipality would prefer using its own service providers to complete all necessary work.

“Payment will be considered for the 11 out of 15 of the boreholes drilled.”