HEILBRON, Free State — The African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) is formally calling for the recent Free State cattle deaths to be declared a provincial disaster, following the loss of more than 500 head of cattle during last week’s severe inclement weather. The devastating impact of heavy rains and snowfall has left communal livestock farmers in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality seeking urgent intervention and relief from the provincial Department of Agriculture.
The crisis has deeply impacted local agriculturalists, including Tlalane Motloung, a 57-year-old mother of six with over two decades of experience in livestock farming. Motloung, who left her formal employment in 2023 to focus entirely on farming, described the event as a major setback to her dream of building generational wealth.
“Farming is a way to sustain myself and my family,” Motloung stated, pleading for immediate intervention from the provincial Department of Agriculture. She emphasized that the cattle were a vital source of income intended to better the lives of her children. “If we had learned from the government as we have been applying, this could have been avoided.”
Motloung’s sentiments reflect broader concerns among communal livestock farmers in the region, who lamented a systemic lack of access to land. While the extreme cold weather conditions are the immediate catalyst for the Free State cattle deaths, many farmers argue that the losses could have been prevented with adequate support and resources.
In response to the crisis, affected farmers recently gathered at a local library alongside officials from the Department of Agriculture to discuss immediate next steps. During the meeting, AFASA representatives outlined their initial relief intervention, which includes providing affected farmers with supplements, licks, and medication designed to boost mineral levels in surviving herds. AFASA noted that consultations with animal technicians indicated many of the deceased cattle suffered from critical bodily deficiencies exacerbated by the harsh weather.
A spokesperson for the provincial Department of Agriculture confirmed that the department is currently consolidating information and statistics regarding the number of affected farmers.
“At the present moment, the department is still busy with statistics. When we are finally done with the statistics, we will get back to the media again and brief the funding community at large,” the spokesperson explained. The department is actively gathering data to formulate cost estimates for the losses, with planned assistance focusing on veterinary services and the distribution of feed.
To ensure a comprehensive response, the Department of Agriculture, alongside AFASA, will conduct site visits to other severely affected areas, including Koppies and Deneysville, on Wednesday. These visits aim to accurately assess the damage and deliver targeted relief to the farming communities struggling to recover from the devastating weather event.
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