When I first started working at the weather office, my mother regularly asked me when the Jansenville-Steytlerville area would get some rain.
The reason was that whenever she spoke to customers in the region, they were constantly complaining about the prolonged drought they were experiencing.
Knowing that this is traditionally a dry, low rainfall region, I never gave the area a second thought as the years progressed, except when passing through the area and commenting that this is why the area south of Graaff- Reinet is a Valley of Desolation.
You would presume that with 2024’s fantastic summer rainfall season over our interior, water reserves would be at a premium over most of these regions.
I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful little town of Steytlerville this past weekend.
I must compliment the city fathers as it is one of the neatest and cleanest small towns that I have come across in my recent travels.
My quest was to fulfil one of the items on our bucket list and attend a show at the Karroo Theatrical Hotel.
This is an enjoyable event that you will never forget.
To extend the weekend, we booked an extra night at a guest farm 32km outside of town and the manager informed me that the town relied heavily on borehole water for its main water source.
It was quite interesting to note signs all over the hotel asking guests to conserve water and to only shower at designated times.
This sentiment was echoed by the car museum-wildlife rehabilitation centre, where we were told that they only got water in three-hour slots twice a day.
According to a woman there, though other areas have had a bumper rainfall, the area has received well below normal rainfall in 2025.
She should know as she not only runs the museum and rehabilitation centre and a coffee shop but also manages the official Weather Service rainfall station.
She took over this task from the magistrate’s office, which used to be the designated station for the town.
One of the main reasons for the shortage of water in the area is increased demand through population growth, as well as the growth of eco-tourism in the area.
This is, after all, one of the gateways to the greater Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve.
Even though they live in such a water-scarce area, the gardens do not show any signs of this. The main reason for this is the planting of waterwise gardens.
Jacques and Mark, the owners of the hotel, said that when Keith Kirsten (the famous horticulturalist) came to see the Steytlerville Follies Cabaret show, he asked who did the landscaping of the gardens.
They expected a snide remark, but Kirsten said that in that environment a waterwise garden like theirs was the perfect solution.
Besides, there are many beautiful cactus varieties that give a wonderful display of colour when in bloom.
At home we have a patch of garden, called our memory garden.
No hosepipe can reach it and I have never watered it.
The garden consists of various cacti and related drought-resistant plants collected on all our journeys.
We have this habit of always returning from a trip with something to plant in this garden.
These plants all hold a special memory of a road trip or holiday or weekend away, be it in the mountains, next to a river or at a dam.
An English country garden or an exotic tropical paradise is beautiful and a pleasure on the eye, but in this water-scarce region, they are best left to appreciate in some book or on the screen.
Besides, if those roses do not die of thirst they will most certainly be blown away by our infamous westerly wind in the Bay, as we experienced this week.
A well-landscaped waterwise garden is not only practical and a money saver, but with those certain varieties of cacti flower, it can become the envy of your neighbourhood.
This week in history:
1952: Flooding reported in the Bay, causing extensive damage.
Dam Levels
63.78% slightly down from previous weeks 64.44 %.
Impofu slightly down to under 48.76%.
Weather Safety Tips:
When roads are barricaded by authorities during flooding events, do not remove barriers or try to ride around them. They are there to prevent a tragedy.
Now on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: WEATHER GURU
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.