Despite recent heavy rains, some parts of the country are still in the grips of a devastating drought.

In the Western Cape, drought support in excess of R40 million has been allocated to farmers in the province for the months of March and April.

Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer said: “Agriculture is an important sector of our economy in the Western Cape and we continue to support farmers throughout this difficult period in a bid to ensure that they can continue farming, thereby supporting important agricultural jobs.”

During the second round of the summer Provincial Disaster Risk Assessment, conducted earlier in March, it was determined that monthly support to farmers in the Central and Klein Karoo will continue, as veld conditions in those areas had not improved. Support is also still being offered to farmers in parts of the Cape Winelands, West Coast and the Garden Route.

Most areas of Overberg had shown recovery and as such, support is no longer being provided. However, specific areas are still deemed to be critical and these will continue to receive support.

Supporting the Northern Cape

Santam also recently donated R300 000 to the Agri SA Drought Relief Fund which aims to provide relief to farmers, farm workers and the community of Sutherland. The ongoing drought in Sutherland in the Northern Cape has caused a devastating decline in the sheep breeding population and placed the town’s economy under tremendous strain.

The lack of good rainfall since 2013 in the region has resulted in farmland boreholes drying up, making it harder to raise the sheep that are the backbone of the remote farming town.

Since its inception in 2015, the Agri SA Drought Relief Fund has assisted thousands of commercial and emerging farmers and their communities. Donations made in the past included feed, water, fuel, transport and financial aid. In addition, donations of more than R18 million have been received since 2015 which have provided farmers and communities with urgently needed assistance.

To date this year, the communities of Tosca, Griekwastad, Mossel May, Kenhardt, Willowmore, Aberdeen, Paterson, Hoopstad, Fraserburg and Jansenville have received assistance.

“Agri SA Drought Relief Fund aims to ensure that South African farmers can continue farming, that there is food security and that jobs are protected. We fully support this organisation and encourage other organisations to join us in assisting drought-stricken farmers,” says John Lomberg, Stakeholder Relationship Manager at Santam

Christo van der Rheede, Deputy Executive Director of Agri SA, adds that it is heart-warming that South Africans and South African corporates are coming out in support of our sheep farmers during this very difficult time.