LIMPOPO – Avocado farmers in the Magoebaskloof and Haenertsburg region are counting their losses after a recent cold snap caused widespread frost damage.

Photos of frozen farms and frost-covered vegetation began trending on social media last week, sparking concern among both farmers and residents.

Local avocado farmer Douglas Pirie told the Herald that the icy conditions have severely damaged orchards in the area.

“Our avo trees were burnt by the frost; they’ve been badly affected,” he said. “The last time we experienced this kind of cold was in 2020, but this is by far the worst damage I’ve seen since I started working here in 2012.”

When asked whether the freezing temperatures might be linked to climate change, Pirie said he believes it is more a case of farming being unpredictable by nature. “You never really know what to expect from season to season,” he added.

Liz Betton, who lives at the Ebenezer Dam, told the Herald that on Wednesday morning, she measured a -5 °C on the Ebenezer Dam road driving towards the Trout Fishing Association’s premises.

Among the viral photos shared online were a frozen aerial view of Stanford Lake College and a steel bucket filled with ice, both clear signs of just how low the temperatures dropped.

Residents also took to social media to share their experiences.

Nhlamulo Khosa posted on TikTok that she had left her laundry out overnight, only to find her clothes stiff with ice in the morning, frozen along the edges and inside the pockets.

The frost has raised concerns about the economic impact on the region’s avocado production, especially as many trees were approaching harvest season.