[imagesource: Fairfax Media via Getty Images]

Locust swarms in the Karoo, the Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape are nothing new.

Last year, incredible footage did the rounds showing the Eastern Cape, in particular, coming under siege from “a seemingly unending mass of locusts darkening the sky”.

Unfortunately for farmers across large parts of the country, the situation has not improved.

In fact, reports SA People, they may well have worsened “as a result of the persistent rainfall that has transformed the usually arid Northern Cape and Karoo into a lush, green landscape”.

The brown locust is the worst species, and can sometimes produce up to three generations in a single season when there is an abundance of rain.

Murraysburg farmer Linda van den Berg has filmed what she says are billions of brown locusts that swarm over her house for hours.

This was shot on her farm:

This footage was taken on the nearby Rooipoort Farm, also in Murraysburg:

The Department of Agriculture says it is offering assistance where it can, but farmers say it’s still not enough.

Farmers in the Northern Cape talk about “a trail of devastation” with swarms that “covered an area of about 5 000 hectares… about 10 000 rugby fields”.

That’s according to Barry Naude, who farms in Richmond.

The private sector has had to step in to assist where government falls short

In the Great Karoo, Prince Albert has also come under siege:

The slow-mo of the cat at the end was a nice touch. How long until the tables are turned, though?

Before we go, if you’re after more info it’s worth watching this Carte Blanche segment which aired last month:

[sources:sapeople]