After running veld fires devastated natural grazing lands across rural villages in the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality in the Sekhukhune District, subsistence livestock farmers were left watching their cattle, goats and sheep weaken, lose weight and in some cases die. Many were forced into distress sales, letting livestock go at low prices just to buy enough feed to keep the remaining animals alive.
By Montsho Matlala
Relief finally arrived from two sources: the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD), which delivered supplementary feed, and the long-awaited summer rains now restoring the parched veld.
A Lifeline Delivered
Despite recent rains beginning to revive the burnt landscape, about 400 livestock owners gathered at Mphane village in Ga-Masemola to receive emergency feed from the department. MEC for Agriculture Nakedi Kekana, accompanied by departmental officials, was met with cheers and ululations from farmers, who saw the intervention as a lifeline for their struggling animals.
The devastating fires swept through several villages – Masehlaneng, Eenkantaan (Ga-Mampana), Setlaboswane, Malope, Mphane, Masanteng and Makgwabe – leaving communal grazing lands blackened and unusable.
“Our farmers are the backbone of food security and rural livelihood,” said MEC Kekana. “It is our duty to ensure farmers are supported and empowered to recover from natural disasters such as these devastating veld fires.”
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Strengthening Community Fire Preparedness
Kekana urged farmers and communities to work closely with departmental officials and partners to strengthen preventative measures.
These include:
- Establishing firebreaks;
- Forming community-based fire management structures; and
- Improving coordinated responses during fire outbreaks.
She further committed that the department would continue monitoring affected areas and provide support through disaster management and farmer support programmes.
Farmers Speak: Relief, Losses and Lingering Pain
For many beneficiaries, the feed relief means survival, both for their livestock and their livelihoods.
Mahwiti Maela, a subsistence farmer from Mphane village, welcomed the intervention. “The feeds will make a great difference. Our animals will finally get better nutrition. We depend on natural pastures, and when fires destroy them, our livelihoods are also destroyed. Even though help came late, it is still appreciated.”
In Malope village, Ramatuku Masemola recalled the panic of watching flames swallow the landscape in September. “It was heartbreaking. I had to sell five cows and nine goats to buy feed. I’m left with 13 cattle and 17 goats. With the rains and the feed we’re receiving, I hope they will recover.”
Jackson Mapadimeng from Setlaboswane, who keeps cattle, sheep and goats, described his relief: “The fire destroyed everything. I had to sell 10 cattle just to buy bales. Now the grass is returning, and we have government feed, it feels like early Christmas.”
For others, the tragedy was far more personal. Lilly Bapela from Makgwabe village described the pain of seeing her animals suffer burns. “My three cows were badly burnt, with no chance of recovery. We slaughtered them to end their pain and shared the meat with relatives, but there was no joy. It wasn’t a voluntary slaughter.”
She now cares for her remaining seven cows with the help of the supplementary feed.
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Unresolved Concerns in Moutse East
Although Sekhukhune farmers expressed gratitude, unresolved issues remain in other parts of the district.
Thabo Magana from Moutse East in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality said residents were still waiting for commitments made by the MEC earlier in the year. “We met with her in March about problems such as grazing shortages, stock theft and lack of government support. Since then, nothing has happened. We want to see progress.”
In response to African Farming’s enquiry, the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it would address the concerns after consulting with the affected farmers.
Also read: ‘Not business as usual’: Limpopo farmers must double production, says Premier Phophi Ramathuba
