A massive storm swept through Limpopo with raging winds that pulled down powerlines so Eskom deployed repairmen but they got stuck in the mud, so local farmers lent a helping hand.
Johann Abrie lives just outside of Modimolle in Limpopo but over the weekend, the area was hit by a massive storm. They had strong winds and over 100mm of rainfall in just one hour. The wind destroyed everything in its path including 8 huge ESKOM overhead power lines which were on his farm.
Eskom sent repair guys out to the farm. However, they got stuck in thick, sticky mud. Eskom called Johann to let him know the guys were stuck so he went out to check on them.
“Yesterday ESKOM called me to say that all their trucks got stucked in the mud. (almost as deep as their financial woes) and there was no way for them to get out of that mess.
I went there and found one hell of a catastrophe. ESKOM didn’t know who to turn to, so they turned to the farmers for help.
I quickly got on the phone and mobilised a few neighbouring farmers.”
The community of farmers quickly came together and brought along the biggest tractor in Limpopo within an hour.
“The farmers physically pulled the ESKOM trucks out of the mud and dragged them to the areas where they have to conduct their work. Once done, they dragged them out to dry land and went on to drag another truck in and out. In and out, in and out. Until long after dark last night. The farmers took over the entire salvage operation.”
The farmers made a big difference in the day of these Eskom workers lives. The community came together to help out even though Eskom has left the citizens of South Africa very angry. Johann is really thankful for all the help offered by his community. This is our kind of South Africa!
“Without these farmers ESKOM would have been stuck there in the mud until the Kingdom come. Ordinary recovery vehicles could simply not rescue them as those machines would have got stuck in the mud as well.
These guys did not hesitate when I called them. They simply pulled their tractors out of their cropfields and came to us.
This country and it’s people are hugely indebted to our South African farmers. They have to make a living under extremely difficult conditions in order to feed our nation and when you call them to do a higher national duty without compensation for the greater good of our people, they don’t blink an eye. They just come.
Thank you to all my neighbouring farmers for your help yesterday, in particular Arno du Toit and Hector Mountany. You are true South African patriots.”
by 