Where to from here?

Rustenburg – On Friday 27 May, Martin and Marischka Engelbrecht had to watch how everything they have built up over the past five years burn to ashes. 

The Engelbrecht family stay on a farm on the R24 about 20km outside Rustenburg where they produce fodder and specialised feed for livestock. Martin has perfected formulas for the needs of various livestock, and they plant the grass used in the feed themselves to ensure a top-quality product.

They make a great team, with Mariska often getting behind the steering wheel of the tractor to help her husband.

When they started reaping the rewards of their blood, sweat and tears, they decided to invest in bigger barns to enlarge their storage capacity. The first barn was completed in January this year and the second was about 30% complete [under construction]. They were set for the winter and ready to start delivering to their clientele who rely on them to supply fodder.

The fire broke out shortly after 1pm and started spreading immediately. “My first reaction was to get my machines out of the way of the fire,” Martin said in an interview with Platinum Weekly. The fire damaged his electricity box, which prevented them from pumping water from their own tank. Luckily neighbouring farmers rushed to their aid and the Rustenburg Fire Department also came to help. 

It took about five hours just to get the fire under control. Two days later, the ashes were still smouldering. 

They lost 300 teff bales, 656 grass bales and 7,000 bags of lucerne pellets that were ready to be distributed. Their tractor was burned beyond repair and their trailer sustained a lot of damage. The cables to their factory also have to be replaced. The damage is an estimated R2.1 million.
 
The Engelbrecht’s are still in shock and unsure about their next steps. Although his factory can continue to produce, the season is almost over, so finding the grass and products needed to make the feed now, is close to impossible. The rainfall we had this year was great for the crops but not for the fodder industry, making it even more difficult to get grass.

“The support we got from the community is overwhelming. People that we don’t even know came to help during the fire and we have received offers of lucerne and grass to help us start up again.

God has been good to us during all of this and have sent amazing people on our way to help. We know He will carry us through this.”

Marischka quoted Habakkuk 3:17-19:
Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

While the Engelbrecht’s are left to pick up the pieces after the devastation, the Democratic Alliance ward 36 councillor Jean Keyser has taken the lead to arrange a fund raiser to assist them. He has partnered with Olifantsnek petrol station on the R24, and together they plan to host a colour fun run, with various fun family activities on 2 July… Watch this space for more details! 

If you are able to contribute financially, payments can be made into the WA Wessels attorneys trust account. For more information on how you can assist, contact Martin on 083 417 9502.

WA Wessels Attorneys
First National Bank
Trust account
Account number: 625 218 78 134
Reference: ALG1/0012
Please send your proof of payment to accounting@walegal.co.za.