Page 39 - Research Report 2025.1

Participant 3
We have strong winds, as a hazard that affected people, and then that led to a disaster. We go areas that we have identified strong winds.
Veld Fires
Veld fires, often caused by human activities, are another recurring
disaster in the district. The impact of these fires is twofold: they
destroy crops and livestock, directly impacting food security, and they also threaten homes and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where fire prevention measures are lacking. This recurring pattern of veld fires underscores the importance of implementing stronger fire prevention measures, such as controlled burns, community education, and the establishment of firebreaks. Additionally, institutional capacity must be strengthened to provide rapid response and recovery support when veld fires occur.The reliance on subsistence farming in the region means that losses caused by veld fires can have devastating consequences for local households, which lack the financial resources to recover quickly from such disasters.
Participant 3
“We have identified also MVAs as a disaster, Veld fires and structural fires.”
Participant 4
“Usually, the fires most some of them, they’re due
to a load shedding mostly that we have experienced. Immediately, electricity comes back.
There is a lot that is happening in the house- holds, and probably there is no one. People are at work. People are outside. So fires, they erupt from there.”
Covid-19
Participant 6
“We are we are prone to disasters, you know, physically. That disaster, hails, storms, wind, fires. We mean disasters. We mean those things. Yeah. So we are being affected as institution or
as a municipality as a municipality because we are prone to disasters”
Participant 7
“Heavy winds, heavy rains, floods, runaway fires... because of this low social economic standard, people are vulnerable.”
Participant 5
“There was once a disaster caused by fire and those disasters after farmers of Matatiel.”
Participant 6
“We are prone to disasters, you know, physically. That disaster, hails, storms, wind, fires. We mean disasters. We mean those things. Yeah. So we are being affected as institution or as
a municipality as a municipality because we are prone to disasters.”
Participant 7
“Heavy winds, heavy rains, floods, runaway fires. That’s it. That’s the issue.”
Focus group Participant
“During the fire season that is May to end September, October. We know that, yearly, we will have veldfires. And then when there’s a start of the rainy season, we will have, strong winds and thunderstorms and heavy rainfalls. Even the Okay. Veld fires. veld fires. Depending on the locations. They almost happen almost every year. Alright. It is okay. Different wards. Different wards”
The COVID-19 pandemic added an unprecedented layer of vulnerability to local livelihoods in the Alfred Nzo District. The pandemic disrupted agricultural activities, closed markets, and restricted movement, compounding the economic difficulties already faced by rural communities. The pandemic’s effects on health, mobility, and economic activity further illustrate the vulnerability of rural livelihoods to external shocks. Strengthening public health infrastructure and ensuring access to healthcare and emergency services during such crises is essential for building resilience.
Participant 2
“Of course, COVID, the famous one, the COVID 19,”
Foot and Mouth Disease
In addition to weather-related disasters, livestock farming is particularly vulnerable to diseases, such as Foot and Mouth disease, which has periodically affected the region.
The spread of livestock diseases has a direct impact on rural economies, as many households rely on animal husbandry for their livelihoods. Effective veterinary services, disease monitoring, and response systems are critical for minimizing the impact of such outbreaks on local farmers.
Participant 2
There’s been disasters declared maybe, not nationally, but for
a specific period in terms of the province of KwaZulu Natal
and Eastern Cape. That, I think northwest as well was once, counted in terms of, the disease. I think it was foot and mouth disease thing that has spreaded a lot in terms of, yes, in terms of livestock farming.
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