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Photos: South Africa’s Eastern Cape battles brutal drought

South African farmer Steve Bothma heaved a sigh of relief when the weatherman finally predicted rain. His excitement was short-lived. Just a few days later, the forecast changed. It was back to cloudless sunshine. In South Africa's Eastern Cape province, no one can remember the last proper downpour. Some say it was five years ago, others six. "This is a disaster," says Bothma who in his three decades working the land has never seen such dry weather. Southern Africa is grappling with one of the worst droughts in decades -- the outcome of years of absent or erratic rainfall, and temperatures that have reached record highs.

Updated on: Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM IST

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A wheelbarrow containing refilled bottles of water stands on a road towards the Bezuidenhoutville informal settlement in Adelaide. The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is far from being the only South African province affected by this very long drought. The crisis is almost national, with dramatic consequences, for farmers of course, but also for schoolchildren and businesses. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

A wheelbarrow containing refilled bottles of water stands on a road towards the Bezuidenhoutville informal settlement in Adelaide. The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is far from being the only South African province affected by this very long drought. The crisis is almost national, with dramatic consequences, for farmers of course, but also for schoolchildren and businesses. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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A farm worker of farmer Steve Bothma separates the male and female merino sheep to be sold outside of Adelaide. South African farmer Steve Bothma heaved a sigh of relief when the weatherman finally predicted rain. His excitement was short-lived. Just a few days later, the forecast changed. It was back to cloudless sunshine. In South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, no one can remember the last proper downpour. Some say it was five years ago, others six. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

A farm worker of farmer Steve Bothma separates the male and female merino sheep to be sold outside of Adelaide. South African farmer Steve Bothma heaved a sigh of relief when the weatherman finally predicted rain. His excitement was short-lived. Just a few days later, the forecast changed. It was back to cloudless sunshine. In South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, no one can remember the last proper downpour. Some say it was five years ago, others six. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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An aerial view of the Adelaide Dam with 0% water level. “This is a disaster,” said Bothma, 51, who in his three decades working the land has never seen such dry weather. “Older people who are 70 or 80 years old would tell you exactly the same thing,” he added. Southern Africa is grappling with one of the worst droughts in decades. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

An aerial view of the Adelaide Dam with 0% water level. “This is a disaster,” said Bothma, 51, who in his three decades working the land has never seen such dry weather. “Older people who are 70 or 80 years old would tell you exactly the same thing,” he added. Southern Africa is grappling with one of the worst droughts in decades. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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People stand in a queue holding plastic containers to fill water distributed by a humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers, in the Bezuidenhoutville informal settlement. Rapid urbanisation and growing water consumption have placed a strain on water reserves and caused the coastal city of Cape Town to almost run dry in 2018. But the ongoing drought has compounded the situation. Dam levels dropped dangerously low in October, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to call for “drastic measures”. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

People stand in a queue holding plastic containers to fill water distributed by a humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers, in the Bezuidenhoutville informal settlement. Rapid urbanisation and growing water consumption have placed a strain on water reserves and caused the coastal city of Cape Town to almost run dry in 2018. But the ongoing drought has compounded the situation. Dam levels dropped dangerously low in October, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to call for “drastic measures”. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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A carcass of a cow that died from starvation. Millions are facing hunger due to poor harvests and dwindling livestock. “It is usually beautifully green at this time of the year,” said Bothma, as a hot gust of wind swept through his sheep pen. “But now even the pine trees are dying.” South Africa is one of the world’s driest countries at the best of times. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

A carcass of a cow that died from starvation. Millions are facing hunger due to poor harvests and dwindling livestock. “It is usually beautifully green at this time of the year,” said Bothma, as a hot gust of wind swept through his sheep pen. “But now even the pine trees are dying.” South Africa is one of the world’s driest countries at the best of times. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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Some of Adelaide’s 15,000 inhabitants had been without running water for seven months. Assanda Sais, 38, complained that she could only spare enough water to bathe once a week and that her house was “smelling”. “We keep dirty water to flush,” she explained. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

Some of Adelaide’s 15,000 inhabitants had been without running water for seven months. Assanda Sais, 38, complained that she could only spare enough water to bathe once a week and that her house was “smelling”. “We keep dirty water to flush,” she explained. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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Dwain Wallace, a commercial farmer and the owner of the Waterkloof Farm stares at the drilling machinery that just opened a borehole on his farm in the outskirts of Adelaide. Local authorities have tried to ease the situation by connecting sections of the town to a reservoir fed by Fish River, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) away. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

Dwain Wallace, a commercial farmer and the owner of the Waterkloof Farm stares at the drilling machinery that just opened a borehole on his farm in the outskirts of Adelaide. Local authorities have tried to ease the situation by connecting sections of the town to a reservoir fed by Fish River, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) away. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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Water insecurity could become the biggest developmental and economic challenge facing this country. Adelaide is already suffering from South Africa’s ailing economy, marked by low growth and chronic unemployment. Close to 70 percent of the small town’s inhabitants are out of work. When houses go up for sale, they stay on the market. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

Water insecurity could become the biggest developmental and economic challenge facing this country. Adelaide is already suffering from South Africa’s ailing economy, marked by low growth and chronic unemployment. Close to 70 percent of the small town’s inhabitants are out of work. When houses go up for sale, they stay on the market. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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A family carries bottles of water in the Bezuidenhoudtville informal settlement. On nearby farms, high-yielding avocado trees now barely produce 10, low-grade fruit instead of 50. Helpless farmers watch their animals succumb to thirst and hunger. “I can’t sleep at night,” said the retired farmer. Bothma feared that more months without rain would force him “to close the books”. “Farmers are taking their life,” he said, eyes reddened by the dust. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 4:54 PM

A family carries bottles of water in the Bezuidenhoudtville informal settlement. On nearby farms, high-yielding avocado trees now barely produce 10, low-grade fruit instead of 50. Helpless farmers watch their animals succumb to thirst and hunger. “I can’t sleep at night,” said the retired farmer. Bothma feared that more months without rain would force him “to close the books”. “Farmers are taking their life,” he said, eyes reddened by the dust. (Guillem Sartorio / AFP)

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