#ImStaying has collectively raised over R85 000 in less than two days to support drought relief!
South Africa – This is how we make South Africa better. Together. #ImStaying has received a call from Farmers Aid NPC to assist with raising funds for the drought-stricken Williston farming community in the Northern Cape.
Over the past nine years, this area has received only 13 ml of rain. The severe lack of water has seen farms dry up, killing off all vegetation. This has created a lack of food for livestock and thousands of animals have died from starvation.
“I know of two farmers who committed suicide because of the drought” – Western Cape head of the department of agriculture, Joyene Isaac.
Willem Symington, a sheep farmer in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, said many farmers were experiencing a sense of hopelessness and depression. “I would compare the stress to living in a war zone, except you can get away from a battlefield,” said Symington.
Sheep farmers around Williston face a tough choice: either truck in costly feed to keep their animals alive or slaughter much of their stock.
“Everyone has cut back their flocks of sheep to the bare minimum needed to start again when it rains.”
While much of SA is enjoying good summer rains, its two western provinces have been hit by a persistent drought.
“It’ll take many years to recover because it’s affected the entire value chain,” said Christo van der Rheede, who runs the drought programme at the country’s biggest farmers’ group, AgriSA.
“There are places which haven’t seen rain, or seen so little rain as to make no difference, for nine years.”
Starving farmworkers are no longer working for a salary, but rather exchanging their labour for food to feed their families. This broken community has no way out and are turning to their remaining livestock as a source of food.
As one of the largest online communities on the African continent #ImStaying members have a real chance to make an impact in the lives of this community by way of donating money to this Backabuddy fund which we have created, or by way of food, water and toiletries.
#ImStaying is a Facebook group dedicated to the South African women and men of all races, cultures, religions and creeds who remain loyal to South Africa. The group was created to honour all those who still believe that we, as a nation, can turn things around.
#ImStaying focuses on the people, beauty and positivity in South Africa and all the good vibes.
“We have already generated over R85 000 in less than two days. To put this into perspective, a donation of R200 could feed a small family for two days or more, or provide one bail of food for the livestock.
We can make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of people by coming together on this project.”
Funds raised will be administered directly by Backabuddy NPC and transferred directly to Farmers Aid NPC for drought relief.
To help with the drought relief, click here!
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