Game Farmers Unite Against Drought

Eastern Cape Drought 2021–2022

Background

Much of the Eastern Cape had experienced increasingly severe dry spells from 2015 onwards, but by mid-2021, the crisis had reached a critical point. On 19 May 2021, with dams supplying Nelson Mandela Bay sitting at just 12.32% capacity, desperate farmers appealed to Premier Oscar Mabuyane to declare the province a disaster area. Grazing lands were parched—19% of the province’s pastures had failed, threatening some 5,600 agricultural jobs—and delays in soil preparation and planting foreshadowed yet another lost grain season. The province, already officially declared drought-stricken, faced growing socio-economic hardship as rural communities and even some towns began to run out of reliable water supplies.

WRSA Foundation’s First Relief Effort

On 5 August 2021, the WRSA Foundation—guided by its motto, “Where heart and hand meet”—launched its inaugural fundraising drive to aid beleaguered wildlife ranchers. Recognizing that mainstream drought relief often bypassed wildlife ranching, the foundation set out to deliver targeted assistance to those who managed South Africa’s private game estates. In areas of the Sarah Baartman District, where six consecutive years of below-average rainfall had withered natural grazing and depleted groundwater, tens of thousands of antelope, zebra, and other game species faced starvation without immediate intervention.

Rather than simply raise awareness, the WRSA Foundation coordinated the rapid collection and delivery of essential resources: cash grants, supplementary feed, veterinary support, transport logistics, and water-provision equipment. Behind the scenes, game ranchers who still had reserves joined forces to extend help to their neighbors, embodying the spirit of shared resilience.

Donations and Deliveries

• Feed Contributions:

  • 30 mixed-grass round bales (1.2 m) donated by Milk Shed Trust in East London

  • 500 grass bales (1.2 m) donated by S.T. Ferguson (Pty) Ltd in Hekpoort, Gauteng

• Transport Partnerships:

  • The PHASA Foundation arranged discounted freight, and companies such as Miltrans, Integrated Service Solutions, Chemchamp Africa, JLR Dorpers, Buffelshoek Transport, and Bextrans moved the loads.

• Logistics in Action:

  • Seven separate deliveries from Hekpoort to Jansenville, EC (50 bales each)

  • Two deliveries from Hekpoort to Paterson, EC (50 bales each)

  • One delivery from Gonube to Paterson, EC (30 bales)

  • In total, 430 bales of fodder reached drought-hit ranches.

Impact and Reach

Twelve wildlife ranchers registered to receive assistance under the drive, safeguarding a combined 29,550 hectares. Among them, five were dedicated game-only operations, and six managed both game and domestic livestock. In all, 7,333 head of wildlife benefited from the supplemental feed and water support, preventing large-scale loss and stabilizing vulnerable herds until seasonal rains finally arrived.

By the end of 2022, what had begun as a dire emergency evolved into a testament to community solidarity—and to the WRSA Foundation’s commitment to stepping in wherever wildlife ranchers needed a helping hand.