Swart du Plessis
Swart du Plessis, from the farm Onverwacht in the Suurveld, has a passion for nature and feels strongly about leaving the earth better than you found it.
“Stewardship and being an example is very important to me. You’re just a link,” he says. “To see something develop and progress in which you had a stake is very satisfying.”
Rienette Colesky, CEO of Gamtoos Water, recently thanked him for his work in bringing alien invasive plants under control on his farm and thus supporting the efforts of Work for Water with its maintenance. Especially after a photo was posted on social media that is proof that it is possible for cattle to graze in a ravine full of lush grass that was previously covered with invasive plants.
Du Plessis says his interest in the eradication of alien invasive plants began as early as 1990 when Edwill Moore asked the farmers for their support with the presentation of Work for Water. “I immediately thought it was a good idea from the government and felt it was something I wanted to get involved in.”
“We started that time with an 800ha farm to clean the Black Wattle block by block. It is mainly mountainous terrain and very labour-intensive work. You just have to keep doing it and keep your hand on it. Follow-up work is the most important.”
According to him, one of the most important management practices in the Suurveld area is the management of fire.
“The Black Wattles are first sawn off with a chainsaw and then the trunk is lubricated with an agent that prevents further growth. The wood that has been sawn off is thrown in rows to rot or we burn it under strict control.” After that, perennial grasses are sown.
Du Plessis says Black Wattles, which were actually sown for firewood by previous generations, is not only a pest because it uses so much water, but also because nothing grows underneath it.
“If the seedlings are still small, they can be sprayed with pesticides. ” When the Black Wattle is still very small, the sheep graze on it, but not when it grows bigger.”
Workers sow perennial grasses by hand to re-establish pastures. Du Plessis has developed a method that makes grass sowing a little faster by putting grass seeds on the cattle’s salt licks so that they also spread the grass wherever they move.
“Rehabilitation and resettlement are long processes and patience is key,” he says.
“I understand that controlling invasive plants is not high on a farmer’s priority list, especially when times are rough. A farmer cuts back on labour first and then the maintenance of fences and eradication of invasive plants are left behind. There’s also a lot of rented land in the Suurveld, where farmers don’t look after the land as well as when it’s your own”.
Du Plessis says the influence of alien invasive plants on water availability is undeniable.
The price of land, he said, is also determined on whether it is land with or without alien invasives on it.
“Today I can say that the farm, now 10 000ha, has its invasive plants under control.” Since his son, Henco, took complete control of the farm, Du Plessis can focus on invasive control. “I have three workers with backpack sprayers who are permanently on Black Wattle duty,” he says.
He would like to see more farmers buy into the importance of eradicating alien invasive plants. “Work for Water did a wonderful job, but the support of the farmers is needed. It is also about upliftment, job creation and training the community. Collaboration is the key to success.”
Swart du Plessis
Swart du Plessis van die plaas Onverwacht in die Suurveld het ‘n passie vir die natuur en voel sterk daaroor om die aarde beter agter te laat as wat jy dit gekry het.
“Rentmeesterskap en om ‘n voorbeeld te wees is vir my baie belangrik. ‘n Mens is maar net ‘n skakel,” sê hy. “Om iets te sien ontwikkel en vooruitgaan waarin jy ‘n aandeel gehad het, is baie bevredigend.”
Rienette Colesky, HUB van Gamtoos Water, het hom onlangs bedank vir sy werk om indringerplante op sy plaas onder beheer te bring en so die pogings van Werk vir Water te ondersteun met die onderhoud daarvan. Veral na ‘n foto op sosiale media geplaas is wat ‘n bewys is dat dit moontlik is vir beeste om in ‘n kloof vol weelderige gras te wei wat voorheen oortrek was met indringerplante.
Du Plessis sê sy belangstelling in die uitroei van indringerplante het al in 1990 begin toe Edwill Moore met die voorstelling van Werk vir Water die boere gevra het vir hul ondersteuning. “Ek het dadelik gedink dit is nou ‘n goeie idee van die regering en gevoel dit is iets waarby ek betrokke wil raak.”
“Ons het daardie tyd met ‘n plaas van 800ha begin om die Black Wattle blok vir blok skoon te maak. Dit is hoofsaaklik bergatige gebied en baie arbeidsintensiewe werk. ‘n Mens moet dit maar aanhou doen en jou hand daarop hou. Opvolgwerk is die belangrikste.”
Volgens hom is een van die belangrikste bestuurspraktyke in die Suurveldgebied, die bestuur van brand.
“Die Black Wattles word eers met ‘n kettingsaag afgesaag en dan word die stam met ‘n middel gesmeer wat verdere groei verhoed. Die hout wat afgesaag is word in rye gegooi om te vrot of ons brand dit onder streng beheer.” Daarna word meerjarige grasse gesaai.
Du Plessis sê Black Wattles wat deur vorige geslagte nogal gesaai is vir brandhout, is nie net ‘n pes omdat dit so baie water gebruik nie, maar ook omdat niks daaronder groei nie.
“As die plantjies nog klein is, kan dit met gif gespuit word. “As die Black Wattle nog baie klein is, eet die skape nogal daaraan, maar nie as dit groter groei nie.”
Hy sê daar moet ook uitgekyk word vir groot bome wat omgeval het en heinings beskadig en self watergate toeval. “Dit is alles deel van die opvolgwerk.”
Werkers saai meerjarige grasse met die hand om dan weer weiding te hervestig. Du Plessis het ‘n metode ontwikkel wat grassaai so bietjie vinniger maak deur grassade op die beeste se soutlekke te sit dat hulle so ook die gras versprei waarookal hulle beweeg.
“Rehabilitasie en hervestiging is ‘n lang proses en geduld is maar die wagwoord,” sê hy.
“Ek verstaan dat die beheer van indringerplante nie hoog op ‘n boer se prioriteitslys is nie, veral as dit swaar gaan. ’n Boer besnoei eerste aan arbeid en dan bly die onderhoud van drade en uitroei van indringers agter. Daar is ook baie huurgrond in die Suurveld, waar ‘n ou nie so goed kyk na die grond as wanneer dit jou eie is nie”.
Du Plessis sê dat water beskikbaarheid definitief beinvloed word deur die teenwoordigheid van indringer plante.
Die prys van grond word volgens hom ook bepaal daarop of dit grond is met of sonder Black Wattles op.
“Vandag kan ek sê dat die plaas, nou 10 000ha, se indringerplante onder beheer is.” Vandat sy seun, Henco, heeltemal beheer oor die plaas geneem het, kan Du Plessis net fokus op indringerbeheer. “Ek het drie werkers met rugsakspuite wat permanent op Black Wattle diens is,” sê hy.
Hy sou graag wou sien dat meer boere inkoop in die belangrikheid van die uitroei van indringerplante. “Werk vir Water doen wonderlike werk, maar hulle het die boere se ondersteuning nodig. Dit gaan ook oor opheffing, werkskepping en opleiding vir die gemeenskap. Samewerking is die sleutel tot welslae.”
