Dit re\u00ebn nou meer as wat die son sy kop uitsteek en boere sowel as die gemeenskap is \u2019n bietjie vuisvoos vir die onophoudelike waters wat val. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maar dis wel goeie nuus. Die damme loop vol en ons ondergrondse bronne word versadig. En die droogte van \u2019n paar jaar terug blyk nou finaal verby te wees, met wat die natste winter in dekades behoort te wees in die Boland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Die water het wel nie gekom sonder sy skade nie. Paaie, landerye en wonings is erg verspoel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maar water is \u2019n ding waaroor ons nie mag kla nie. Al het die hemele nou opgemaak en \u2019n oorvloed daarvan gebring, sal die moontlikheid van \u2019n droogte ons weer paniekbevange laat rondskarrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2019n Skaarste aan water het deur die eeue heen die boere laat vuisslaan oor waterregte. En sommige deskundiges beweer die vermindering van hierdie lewensbron w\u00eareldwyd kan in \u2019n stadium tot \u2019n grootskaalse oorlog lei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ek ken van kindsbeen af droogte. Dit het vir my \u2019n baie gesonde respek vir water geleer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ek was altyd net \u2019n kuiergas, maar reeds as kind het ek my hart aan die Karoo verloor. Dit was deel van my vormingsjare, en ek was deel daarvan, en dis \u2019n liefde wat ek dekades later steeds koester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ek was 12 toe ek saam met Koos Vos op die Karoo-vlaktes tussen Carnarvon en Vanwyksvlei begin \u201cboer\u2019\u2019 het. In di\u00e9 tyd was die vooruitsig vir boere net so somber soos vandag. Die aarde was net so swart geskroei soos nou, en die veld het eweneens soos \u2019n doodskleed gelyk. Die droogte was t\u00f3\u00e9 ook o\u00ebnskynlik eindeloos. En met die intrap, kleintyd, het ek \u2019n gesonde respek vir water gekry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ek het dikwels saam met Koos Vos in die veld gery. Dit was nie meer vreemd om die dooie lammertjies onder bossies te sien l\u00ea nie. Of swak lammertjies wat met hul laaste krag aan hul ma\u2019s suig, stertswaaiend van op\u00adgewondenheid. Maar hulle suig te\u00advergeefs. Die spene is leeg. Uiteindelik strompel die tak-maer beentjies weg, wankel en val. Koos Vos raak al hoe moedeloser. Ek voel sy verdriet, en lees die verlange na re\u00ebn in sy o\u00eb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
N\u00e1 skool reis ek vir \u2019n paar jaar in die buiteland. Met my terugkeer klim ek op die Trans-Karoo \u2013 nou het my siel die ooptes nodig. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maar op Koos Vos se Humansdam is dit somber, want sedert my vorige besoek drie jaar tevore het die re\u00ebn weggebly en die boerdery is op die rand van \u2019n afgrond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Een middag kom ons van die veld af. Die wolke trek ligtelik saam. Ek hou hulle goed dop. Spierwit wolke. Maar Koos Vos is al s\u00f3 moedeloos oor beloftes van re\u00ebn, hy lig nie eens sy o\u00eb na die hemele nie. Toe die grootmense later gaan skuins l\u00ea, dwaal ek op die werf rond. Die wolke raak al hoe donkerder. Skielik tref iets soos \u2019n klippie my voorkop. Ek staan vir \u2019n oomblik doodstil. N\u00f3g \u2019n klippie. En toe begin dit drup. Die druppels wat teen my vel plons, is s\u00f3 groot, dit maak byna seer. Eers val dit net effe, maar meteens stort dit s\u00f3 erg, ek moet hardloop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dit re\u00ebn kliphard. Dit re\u00ebn die stilte van die droogte weg. Die wolke stamp kop. Dit donder. En agter die gordyne dans die blitse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nou is die huis wakker. Ons verwonder ons aan die re\u00ebngordyn wat voor ons val. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
N\u00e1 \u2019n uur bedaar dit. Almal haas hulle buitentoe, veld toe. Waar die geskroeide aarde vroe\u00ebr die dag gel\u00ea het, blink nou oral riviertjies. Ons ry diepveld in, tot heel aan die ander kant van die plaas teen die voetheuwels van die Dwaalberg. Hier kyk ons uit oor die delta water wat al op die vlaktes gevorm het.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2019n Skaduwee trek oor ons. Dis \u2019n flambojansie van diep-pienk flaminke wat in een van die panne neerstryk, asof om finaal aan te kondig die droogte is gebreek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maar droogtes kom terug \u2013 keer op keer. Boere verloor hul grond, hul moed, hul lewenslus. Al wat bly, is hoop. Dat die flaminke weer sal kom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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