The Northern Cape and Free State economies are heavily dependent on agriculture – so when both provinces were ravaged by recent wildfires and a call went out for help, both RMI and MIWA members were quick to jump on board to assist.
RMI Free State and Northern Cape regional manager Jacques Viljoen notes that the devastation wrought by the veld fires took a particularly heavy toll on farmers in the region, leading to losses of game, livestock, and property at a time when they had already been hard hit by drought. Thus, when kykNET presenter Elsa Esterhuizen announced the launch of the GROOTPlaas Oes-Uit-Die-As Hulpfonds, RMI was eager to help.
RMI joined forces with medFM to host a series of announcements aiming to raise awareness of the farmers’ dire situation. This was followed up with a fundraising challenge, with RMI asking members, corporates, and individuals to see who will donate the most monies. In true MIWA style, many of our members challenged each other making a meaningful contribution to the R26 000 total RMI has managed to raise thus far.
It is so great to see MIWA members joining together to help their community and also to receive some good airtime on MedFM. We have had weekly interviews on MedFM throughout November to raise awareness of the fundraiser. Bruno Burri from Swedo-Tech, a MIWA member in the area and member of the RMI Free State and Northern Cape regional executive committee, was in the studio on Wednesday 18 November with Jacques to speak about the initiative.
All monies raised will be shared between Vrystaat Landbou, Agri Noord-Kaap, and Agri Noordwes.