The Hoedspruit community recently rallied together to provide much needed citrus fodder for domestic and wild animals suffering from the effects of a two year drought in the Steytlerville and surrounding areas in the Eastern Cape.
Clarry Sanders from Bushmaster spearheaded the feed aid project. He told the HOEDSPRUIT HERALD, “The week prior to taking this load down, over 800 sheep died due to a cold spell.
“Normally they would not be affected but due to their poor condition they died. The kudu are dying out at such a rate that all hunting has been stopped to try and save the few that are left. There is just nothing in the veld to sustain these creatures, they are totally reliant on feed.”
Sanders spoke with Peter Knudsen, the chairman of the Steytlerville Farmers Association and decided to see if he could help them out in some way.
Sanders went on to say, “After a few phone calls to some mates, I managed to raise some funding to hire crates from Chep and sponsor diesel. I phoned and went to see local farmers for donations of oranges. After explaining what I intended to do to Martin Mentis from Dinaledi Farming Enterprises, he was immediately on board and donated 22 tons of citrus.”
On Saturday, September 1, Sanders left Hoedspruit with a loaded truck of citrus and headed down to the drought stricken Eastern Cape.
“From Graaff-Reinet, all the way to Steytlerville, it started drizzling. When I pulled into Steytlerville, it was a nice steady soft rain which fell all night. By the next morning, they had had over 20 mm. This was the first time in two years that they had had more than 10 mm in one downpour,” says Sanders.
On the Monday morning, the citrus was offloaded at a designated site. All the surrounding farmers came with their bakkies and small trucks and according to the size of their farms and needs, were allocated oranges.
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Sanders went on to say: “It was a muddy mess but these farmers were so grateful for the donation and the rain, it was a very humbling.”
Sanders extends his thanks and gratitude to the following, saying “Give these chaps a Bells”: Dinaledi Farming Enterprises, PB Projects, Le Bamba Fruit and Veg, Maruleng Spares, Cell Services, Game Viewer Rentals, Mariepskop Gas, Khaya Ndlovu Manor House, Makumu Private Game Lodge, Kambaku Game Lodge, Sleepers Restaurant, Kevins Kamp, FA Construction, CIR Construction, Savuki Drilling, Bushmaster, Eco-Pro Construction, Chameleon Construction, Trademark Auto and Rheinholdt Tonsing.
Sanders went on to conclude, “A big thank you to all that helped make this happen, my staff at Bushmaster for helping with the organisation and putting up with my crap.”
