Orange River artery keeps South-Western Free State heart beating

Abstract

The close-knit community of Jacobsdal in the South Western Free State was on the brink of collapse as the economy suffered in the worst drought in living memory. “There was nothing we could do,” says Mrs Wilke, “there was just no water.” Relief came from an unexpected quarter. Dr Henegan van Graan, principal of the Panorama School in Saundershoogte, went on a massive recruiting drive for young pupils and, with government support, he was able to offer desperate farmers and business people temporary jobs as teachers. The local chemist and lawyer taught alongside farmers and their wives working for government salaries that would ensure the survival of their community and their farms until the rains came. Eventually van Graan had 1 300 young pupils and 50 staff – most of them drawn from the farming community. Despite their plight the farmers and townsfolk were no motley crew and the education department named Panorama’s staff the most qualified teachers in the country.

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