Monday, June 23, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
21 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result
in News

Farmer foot soldier fulfilling his promise to God

Dawn Noemdoeby Dawn Noemdoe
22nd April 2019
For the past 13 years Burre Burger has made it his mission to help drought stricken farmers in Mzansi.

For the past 13 years Burre Burger has made it his mission to help drought stricken farmers in Mzansi.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

Rallying thousands of truckloads of fodder and water valued at close to a hundred million rand while criss-crossing Mzansi has been Burre Burger’s life’s mission for the past 13 years.

Burger (34) started this journey in aid of hundreds of desperate, drought-stricken farmers in 2006 after an attempted suicide changed his life forever.

“I’ve had a few droughts in my life and 2006 was a bad year. I tried to commit suicide and I remember waking up in hospital and asking God: ‘Tell me how can I serve you?’”.

Burger waited for a message from God. One night at a braai with family a beautiful lightning bolt struck during a thunder storm. His brother Tredoux commented, referring to the plight of drought-stricken farmers: “God paints beautiful pictures in the sky, but if only He painted as beautifully on earth’.”

Burre Burger

This was Burger’s sign. Soon thereafter he delivered his first drought relief aid. “We delivered 30 000 litres of 500 ml bottles of water to an old age home in Calvinia in the Northern Cape.” Their first fodder delivery was also in Calvinia. “I remember there was old man, he came to me and asked, how much does this stuff costs. When I said it was free, he just started crying.”

That night Burger told his mom, Rhoda Groenewald, about his experience, realising that the tears that man shed were priceless. “I made a promise to God,” explains Burger when asked about why he decided to make this his life’s purpose.

He says his biggest challenge at the moment is false rumour and gossiping. “People will say Burre just bought himself a new beach house,” he explains. “We also struggle to find  transport and raising funds is a challenge,” Burger adds.

Droogte Hulp met Burre Burger, his non-profit company’s Facebook group, and Burger’s personal Facebook page have received tremendous support. With over 35 000 page likes respectively, Burger receives positive engagements and support almost daily. Inspired by social media and other media reports, one person transported 32 truckloads of feed to farmers in need. Backing like that happens every so often, Burger explains. “The guy who transported that feed said he did it because he could see the difference we’re making in people’s lives.”

Burgers says it’s inspiring to see farmers standing together.

He has even been told that he saved a farming couple’s marriage. “You see, a farmer himself will never send a video of him crying, but the female farmer or the farmer’s wife can see what’s happening on the farm.”

Droogte Hulp met Burre Burger regularly posts heartfelt videos of how farmers are suffering across the country. According to Burger the farmers and their families can only take so much before they burst and plead for help. “That’s when we usually post it on Facebook and we get a lot of support through that and we’re able to support those farmers,” he explains.

Burger believes that farmers are surviving, but it’s still tough. “We’ve been asked what we will do once the drought has passed, but farmers continue to struggle even if they get more rain and we’ll continue to support them,” he adds.

Burger and Former Springbok rugby coach Pieter De Villiers raises awareness across the country.

Without predicting what the future holds for farmers throughout South Africa, Burger believes that they will mission on and continue to support Mzansi’s farmers. “Former Springbok rugby coach Pieter De Villiers and I are travelling the country to raise awareness.” Burger never expected this campaign to take off as it has. “I usually go to farms and I will tell them, you guys came in here and trusted that chair you’re sitting on. And if you can trust that chair, you can trust God.”

Throughout Burger’s campaign drives he has emphasised the importance of farmers reaching out to neighbours to find out if they need support. Burger explains that a year ago he had friends visiting and asked them to do one thing. “Go to the farmer next to you and visit him.” Soon thereafter he received a call from a woman saying she visited her next door neighbour and he has nothing. “This guy stays in a caravan and there was nothing on his farm. That same day we organised some food for his sheep,” says Burger.

This farmer foot soldier started a new entity called ‘Boere Hulp’ (Farmers’ Help).

This initiative aims to help farmers to pay their children’s school fees. “We’ve also started a project in Cape Town where we’re asking people to help by donating clothes – new clothes – to donate to people in need.”

Burger has urged Mzansi to try and support their cause. He explains, “We’re not like certain people in our country who says they’re going to do something, then they don’t. We say we’re going to do something, then we do it.”

Tags: GroundbreakersNorthern CapePieter de Villiers

Related Posts

Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

23rd June 2025
New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

21st June 2025

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

Agribusiness confidence slips amid trade and disease worries

High trade tariffs loom if Agoa deal fails

Tractor rollout powers up struggling KZN farmers

Agriculture sector to confront climate crisis at key summit

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for agriculture and rural development, Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, during a site visit to key infrastructure projects in Ndwedwe as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
News

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

by Staff Reporter
21st June 2025

KZN MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa has called for the timely completion of infrastructure and education projects in Ndwedwe. She also pledged...

Read moreDetails
Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

20th June 2025
New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

20th June 2025
FMD: Farmers who notice symptoms of foot and mouth disease in their livestock should report it to local veterinarians as soon as possible. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Agribusiness confidence slips amid trade and disease worries

20th June 2025
From farm to fork: How red meat fuels jobs and plates across SA

From farm to fork: How red meat fuels jobs and plates across SA

19th June 2025

Farmers eye Starlink as a connectivity lifeline

Rangelands under pressure: Saving SA’s grazing heartland

From farm to fork: How red meat fuels jobs and plates across SA

Importer urges flexible chicken deal with Brazil

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

This week’s agri events: 24 – 27 June

Rangelands under pressure: Saving SA’s grazing heartland

New multi-million rand wine fund backs black-owned brands

KZN MEC urges fast-tracking of key Ndwedwe projects

Spice up winter with this yummy sausage & bean stew

New 10-year strategy sets vision for Africa’s agri future

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

  • Awards & Global Impact
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2024 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.