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Farm workers collecting leftover mielies from the fields after the main harvest. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) Following the main harvest, outside of Bothaville in the Free State, farm workers glean leftover (corn) from the fields, filling up to 20 bags a day. They state this work provides "enough to put food on the table," with the collected corn often destined for animal feed.
In nearby fields, others are engaged in setting controlled veld fires, a method used to clear the land and prepare it for the next planting season.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8851-1.jpg "Determined to fill up bags with leftover mielies on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8861.jpg "Waiting for the supervisor to give guidance on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8894.jpg "Working in groups helps dry harvested fields on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8887.jpg "It's cold but farmworkers are determined to see the work done, on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8913.jpg "They find time to share jokes, on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8926.jpg "Water comes handy in these dry conditions on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8866.jpg "Filling up bags with mielies, on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8855.jpg "Taking a break is important, on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8845.jpg "Determined to fill up bags with leftover mielies, on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8955-1.jpg "Monitoring veld fires near Bothaville in the Free State on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A8968-1.jpg "Farm workers setting up controlled veld fires olong the R38 near Bothaville in the Free State on 12 June 2025. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A9033-1.jpg "Veld fires serves for several agricultural and ecological purposes. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/067A9026-1.jpg "Veld fires serves for several agricultural and ecological purposes. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla). DM")
"Veld fires serves for several agricultural and ecological purposes. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)." Even ignoring the terrible grammar, this is just a ridiculous statement. Veld fires are not holistically carbon neutral, they kill millions of small animals and insects, damage fences and people's health. There are a few specific contexts in which an initial veld fire can make sense (e.g. withngongoni grass), but repeated annual veld fires create bare soil and breaks water and nutrient cycles.
