Letter from Grateful Farmers to Expat ‘Blonde Angel in a Cowboy Hat’
Last week South African expat, Heather Rodd-Young, was so moved by the plight of those living on farms in South Africa – from farmers to farm workers – that she responded to a request by many social media commenters to set up a fundraising effort to help those back home. The beneficiaries will be the […]
Last week South African expat, Heather Rodd-Young, was so moved by the plight of those living on farms in South Africa – from farmers to farm workers – that she responded to a request by many social media commenters to set up a fundraising effort to help those back home. The beneficiaries will be the members of the Jansenville Farmers Association.
Heather, who lives in the USA, has set up the fundraising page on Facebook. The Jansenville Farmers Association have expressed their deep appreciation (and dire need for the funds) in the following letter to Heather:
Dearest Heather – The Blonde Angel in a cowboy hat
We cannot express how grateful we are to be the recipients of your fundraiser. Heather contacted us on Sunday night and I was to send all these details to her on Monday, but unfortunately we have been without electricity until tonight. (49hrs)
Our farms are situated in the Eastern Cape, 160km from our nearest coastal city, Port Elizabeth.
Our community of farmers have suffered a serious drought for the past year and therefore all extra resources have been spent buying in fodder for our goats, cattle , sheep and game.
There is a dire need to improve our security measures on each and every farm, so to be given a sum of money in these trying times in South Africa, is an absolute blessing.
Our association comprises of 61 farmers, which covers an area of approximately 502 square miles.
With family and workers included, these farms house about 1000 people.
After discussing this gesture of Heather’s with my committee, we are quite willing to make available any audit that may be required once the funds have been utilized.
We will post photographs of whatever the money is going to be used for. Each and every farm owner will be accountable to this group to disclose whatever the Money has been used for.
One of our huge shortfalls in the area is our lack of comms, which is very worrying, especially during emergency situations. Cellphone reception is often non-existent, wi-fi is very expensive and often unreliable, electricity is unreliable, which leads us to the idea of perhaps investing in 2 way radios and a radio tower, so that all the farmers can be in contact 24/7.
Eternally grateful
Hansie Terblanche (Chairman of the Jansenville Farmers Association)
If you would like to help the farmers and farm workers, please see more details here.
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Watch Carte Blanche’s ‘farm attacks’ investigation: This week the current affairs programme investigates the rising tensions, and asks what are the solutions. Available to expats from Tuesday. If you’re overseas – subscribe to Showmax to watch Carte Blanche (and other popular shows from home). FREE 14-day trial.