TELL THE WHOLE STORY

I grew up on a farm near Steytlerville, a town you wrote about in Platteland #8 (Spring 2015), but I’ve since been studying in Stellenbosch and am currently home for the holidays.

My parents had to leave the farm about four years ago and moved to town. As I cycled on the dirt road this morning, I thought of how Platteland depicts rural life. You do a great job of capturing its beauty and truth in the little stories and attractions, but there is a hardship to rural life that I think you’re conveniently avoiding.

Towns in the platteland are traditionally maintained and upheld by the farmers of the district. Yes, more recently tourism is playing an increasingly important role in certain towns and I am sincerely grateful for the role that a magazine like Platteland plays in that, but what draws the tourists to the Karoo is the product of years of toil and hardship.

I feel the beauty of the Karoo or the platteland is so much more beautiful when you face it head on, honestly and humbly, and realise its beauty is more than just a photo of a windmill or a quick driveby on your holiday. Its beauty speaks of perseverance in the face of a constantly negative bank balance and prayers for rain. At the same time, I feel very strongly that to market only the beautiful, charming and romantic aspects of the platteland is superficial and barely half the truth. Can we tell the full story, please?

Justine Rudman, STELLENBOSCH