TORRENTIAL rains that were recorded over several areas of the Eastern Cape last week brought much relief to the drought stricken province.
In Fort Beaufort a total of 80mm was recorded in two days last week while places like Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen and Komani also received substantial downpours. Much more rain is, however, needed to break the drought that is prevalent over the province.
In Adelaide there is still not a drop of water in the Koonap river and residents are still dependant on water from water tanks supplied to the communities by Gift of the Gi-vers.
Over the past holiday season Komani-Karoo Express was met by several sorry sites in the rural areas and around Fort Beaufort. The road between Alice and Fort Beaufort was littered with decomposing cattle carcasses.
Owing to the drought, their owners do not even bother to skin them, but leave them to rot in the veld.
“It is really sad,” one cattle owner told Komani-Karoo Express.
“They just collapse from hunger and thirst and we can do nothing to help them.”
Farmers in the area are still awaiting the drought relief promised by the government.
Cattle seen chewing on rubbish like pieces of cardboard, as they cannot find decent food, have become a common sight in most rural towns.
Heavy rains have also cut off the water supply in Fort Beaufort. Burst water pipes have resulted in the town being without water for days.
