Geography of Eksteenskuil

The area of the Northern Cape in South Africa is one of contrast. Much is flat, almost desert-like, with rocky ground and outcrops. Running through it is the Orange River, which transforms the landscape, enabling localised agricultural production via irrigation. Thus a verdant ribbon of farm land winds its way through the landscape. The total area of land within Eksteenskuil is approximately 2,000 hectares, about 600 hectares is farmed under irrigation. The rest is categorised as waste land, much being rocky and thus unsuitable for farming. Currently, there are approximately 120 farmers operating within the community. During the 1970s the plots of irrigated land were consolidated into 147 units, with an average size of 3.86 ha. The State proposed giving the land to the farmers but the local government needed money for development (electricity, water) and decreed that the land had to be sold. In 1987, an agreement was reached that the land be valued at R600 / ha.

The river, and numerous irrigation channels, criss-cross the area, hence the members of the Eksteenskuil community live on 21 small islands. Thus the farms are divided by the many branches of the river, and connected in the main by dirt roads that wind across the region. The area is divided into 3 island groups – North, South and Middle. In 2010/11, a new road was constructed through the centre of Middle Island. This has radically improved accessibility for the Middle Island community. During the severe floods of 2011, this road sustained little damage, whilst the dirt roads on the other islands sustained severe damage in places and were in many cases impassable until repairs were enacted. Access to water for irrigation is dependent on channels – either concrete or dirt. Water for homes has to be pumped or carried from the river. Only some households have electricity, many use diesel or paraffin to fuel pumps or cooking equipment.