Farmers across South Africa’s remote north western regions have reacted with joy and deep gratitude after good rain fell in scorched areas from Nababeeb near the Namibian border to Redelinghuys further south.
OC Vermeulen, who has been farming in the Calvinia area in the Northern Cape, said 28mm had fallen on Friday evening followed by a further 16mm yesterday.
Nababeep recorded 19mm and Redelinghuys 28mm.
Vermeulen added that although they were overjoyed by the rain, much more was needed to break the drought.
Hester Obermeyer, livestock feed coordinator of Gift of the Givers, said the drought around Sutherland had been so severe there was not enough shrub for the sheep and that immediate emergency feed was required if flocks were going to survive the winter in one of the country’s coldest environments.
