FARMERS from Izilandana Village in Qumbu, whose sheep and goats died when they were affected by the veld fires, expressed joy that MEC for the Eastern Cape Department for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, brought them feed to assist their animals, last week.
Kontsiwe visited this locality where Masibhozo Yilo lost 111 sheep due to the veld fire.
“Officials from this department visited the affected areas. The immediate intervention was identified as feed because the veld was destroyed, with just little patches of grass left. We are here to console you; do not lose hope, please find a place in your heart to be consoled and we feel your pain. This was your wealth; hence we provided the feed so that the remaining ones double. We are sorry about your loss,” said Kontsiwe.
She added that while she cannot make a commitment about further support that would be given to the farmers, government would see what else could be done to assist.
She urged the communities to discuss issues that caused veld fire, like negligence, the discarding of burning cigarettes, or starting fires they could not control.
Kontsiwe said that the traditional and local leadership should use every occasion, be it in the church services or traditional occasions, to raise awareness about the dangers of veld fires.
One of the victims, Masibhozo Yilo, said he had only 14 sheep left, and he was distraught.
According to him, he was on his way to church when he received a call informing him that there was a fire in one of the fields where his sheep were grazing.
He said he ran as fast as he could, but unfortunately he could not save them, and the worst part was that there was no shepherd looking after them since it is winter.
“It is very painful because I am no longer working. We used to depend on selling them in order for us to get money. Losing all 126 my sheep and left with only 15 left me heart sore.
“I don’t know how I slept that day, and I was not prepared to speak about that incident.
“Kontsiwe has given us hope with her words and there is relief because we have feed. We now have hope because at least the remaining ones will have something to eat,” said Yilo.
His cousin, Madidizela Yilo (55), said he lost 15 sheep during this incident, but the relief given to them will assist a lot.
“We thank government and the officials for their swift intervention after our sheep died. We appealed to the government to intervene, and they managed to do that. With these sheep we were able to send our children to school and feed our families, as I am not employed. This is a big loss to me.”
He confirmed that he was part of the local wool growers who sell their wool to BKB in Gqeberha, and sold some sheep locally to make money.
