For several years, Berdine Vos lived on a farm with her husband, Kobus, in Vanwyksvlei in the Northern Cape. In February 2018, tragedy struck. Vos was forced to pick up the pieces and take over the farm after her husband's death.
Kobus, who was struggling with an illness, had taken his life when the area where he farmed was hit by widespread drought, threatening food security and leaving thousands of farmers in limbo.
But 65-year-old Vos said life had to go on. She said the animals needed to be fed and she needed to survive.
'I locked the safe but...'
Due to the drought in the area, water sources dried up, and plants and animals - a source of income for farmers - died.
Sitting in the lounge of her colleague, Rudi Oberholzer, Vos relayed her ordeal and remained composed as she spoke to News24.
The interview was part of a tour News24 attended with GWK and Agri Northern Cape, under the theme Just One Drop, to some of the areas worst hit by the drought.
At each farm, it was a similar situation.
Dressed in white jeans and blue top, Vos sat crossed-legged with one hand on her cheek as she told News24 what life was like since her husband's death.
She said her husband suffered from heart disease but was strong until the drought first hit the area in around 2011 and 2012. then "he couldn't take it anymore".
She said although Kobus was hardworking, like all farmers, the situation became so dire that death became an option for him.
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