Hi there tristancarax - nice to chat.
I live at the coast in KZN and we have been blessed with enough rain (not enough but we are expecting more) and our climate is mild and our vegetation, lush. Trees are in full leaf and the bird life is fabulous.
BUT I traveled up 8 hours by car to the highveld, Gauteng it is called, and I was almsot in tears with the drab dried out countryside all the way.
We saw fires (mostly controlled) all along the route.
My limited knowledge tells me that it is farmers who are hoping for rain in the next week or so burning the grass so that the new green will come through for their herds of cattle.
Africa goes from one critical drought to another and I pray that this too shall pass.
Thanks for your comment.
Is the spraying you write about also called 'cloud seeding?' I've only heard about it.