By Alani Janeke
Air support was deployed last weekend to deliver food and other goods to rangers and farmers who were stranded due to heavy snowfall near Barkly East. More snow could occur by the end of the month.
Food and other goods were delivered by helicopter to about ten households in the Barkly East district last weekend when they were cut off from the outside world after heavy snowfall. According to Peter Cloete, chairperson of Agri Eastern Cape, a helicopter from Working on Fire (WoF) delivered the goods, purchased with funds from Agri Eastern Cape and AgriSA’s disaster relief funds.
“We made an urgent request for assistance to AgriSA and it was approved half an hour later. We are very grateful for their quick assistance,” he said.
Although there is still snow on the highest mountain peaks in the province, the farms and roads are passable again. Jean-Marie Swanepoel of Tenahead Lodge & Spa in the Naudésnek Pass at Rhodes in the Eastern Cape says they were also temporarily cut off from the outside world after very heavy snowfalls occurred. However, the lodge uses its own tractor to clear its roads.
“Franco (her husband) cleared our road. And our neighbours, oom Stefaans Naudé and oom Donie Naudé, who farm on either side of us, also cleared the roads from their farms. We are very grateful for their help.”
Frik van Rooyen, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers Organisation in the Eastern Cape, says no serious livestock losses have been reported to them yet after the extremely cold weather. Cloete also confirmed that serious livestock losses have not occurred to them so far either.
Check weather forecast, prepare ahead
“The chances of more snow next week look good, especially as a cold front moves across the country from 25 June,” says Johan van den Berg, independent agricultural meteorologist. “Early forecasts indicate that snow is possible as far south as Namibia.”
The heavy snowfall last weekend was the result of a cut-off layer that caused a lot of moisture over the country and moved along with a cold front over parts of the country.
“It is still uncertain whether a cut-off layer will occur again next week along with the cold front. However, there is a chance of rain as far north as the Northern Cape and Free State.”
Cloete says it is important for farmers to take note of the weather warnings and take timely precautions to ensure that their animals are safe and sheltered from extreme weather conditions.
“Ensure that your animals move to the warmer or safer parts of your farm in time. It is difficult on farms located in the mountains, but every farmer knows which areas on his farm are safer than others during the cold times. Also make sure that your animals have enough feed, as they will use more energy to stay warm.”
Also read:
Keep small livestock safe during severe cold
Protect your livestock against wet, cold autumn weather – expert advice
Icy winds biggest threat to snow-impacted farmers
