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A farm manager at plot 19 in Umguza, Mr Nkathazo Nyathi, said one hectare of tomatoes valued at about $1 750, one hectare of butternut valued at about $2 500, two hectares of green maize worth more than $11 500 were destroyed during the cold spell which lasted three-days.
“Some of the affected crops are sugar beans, cabbages, onions,” he said.
The owner of Umguzaane farm, Mr Sweet Sweet, said they were surprised on Monday morning to discover that the crops had been affected by frost.
“I was walking on a carpet of ice in my farm and the ice melted between 9 and 10am. I had planted 7,5 hectares of maize and all is gone.
“I lost 1,5 hectares of butternuts worth $5 000, 4,5 hectares of tomatoes worth $8 000 and other crops too,” he said.
“The only crop that survived the frost is the 10 000 heads of cabbages.”
An official at Nala farm, Mr Sifasi Luphahla, said the most affected crops at the farm were beetroot, rape, garlic and tsunga.
“The crops turned to a dark colour because of the frost,” he said.
He said the loss was saddening and disappointing considering the amount of work they put in and more than $8 000 was lost.
“We are forced to start from scratch,” he said.
Sidumisile Mabena