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THOUSANDS of Southern Cape residents flocked to the Outeniqua Park stadium in George at lunchtime yesterday for a prayer service led by KwaZulu Natal farmer and evangelist Angus Buchan, causing traffic jams and long queues from the town centre.

More than 13500 people packed the rugby stadium to capacity, spilling onto the pitch as families, friends, colleagues and strangers sang and prayed while waiting for Buchan, visionary Graham Power and a team of ministers to start the service.

The interdenominational prayer service was called at the instigation of local farmer Andre Barnard, who had a vision that if people set aside their differences and came together in a spirit of peace and humility, God would provide for their needs.

The prayer service was a call to God for rain as the Southern Cape buckles under its worst recorded drought in 132 years.

Already the area has applied to the provincial Treasury for disaster relief at a time when farmers have to buy feed at huge costs, municipalities have to build desalination and wastewater recycling plants and residents face possible water tariff hikes and stringent water restrictions.

“I am a farmer. I know that without rain, you are nothing. I felt the spirit leading me here to pray for the people of South Africa to stand together and trust God,” Buchan said.

The evangelist, also known for his book-turned-movie Faith like Potatoes, said God had also showed him there was a lack of love in George.

“God told me there is a lack of love here. There are divisions in this camp – at home between children and parents, between workers and employers. There are racial differences and there is division in (the) council.

“We need to stop it here. If your faith is costing you nothing, your faith is dead. And I’m not talking about unbelievers; I am talking about Christians.”

Buchan was overwhelmed by the turnout.

“This is awesome – it is not a public holiday; it’s a Tuesday and everyone is here,” he said.

The evangelist said farmers from the Eastern Cape and Karoo told him they had come to George to pray because they were desperate and had to shoot their cattle.

“I never went to Bible College; my school was the school of hard knocks. But Jesus answers prayers and has never let me down. I’m telling you, rain is going to come. Not maybe; the rain is coming.”

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and several members of her executive council, including Local Government MEC Anton Bredell as well as George MPL Marius Swart, broke their heavy schedule to attend the service.

“I’m here today as I heard there was a prayer service for rain and I want to do the right thing and give my support,” Zille told The Herald.

She said that although emergency plans were in place, she hoped they would not have to be rolled out.

“I hope there are good rains before it is needed.”

Regarding the divisions in the ruling DA and ID coalition in George, Zille said the past five years had been a “nightmare” in the town’s politics.

“Managing coalitions is a nightmare,” the premier said.

“Managing government is not about egos; it is about putting the right people in the right positions.

“Voters must realise that the power is in their hands.

“Coalitions are very fragile and are the cause of unstable governance. People must bear this in mind before the next (municipal) elections.”

But for ordinary people like George residents Logan Pillay and Caroline Moss, the event was about following their Christian beliefs.

The said they had attended the service to humble themselves before God, pray for repentance and for a (Christian) revival.