Two aircraft have been dispatched by the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform to assist with the aerial control of veld fires that are spreading in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
TWO AIRCRAFT have been dispatched by the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform to assist with the aerial control of veld fires that are spreading in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
The DA constituency head in the Kalahari, Willie Aucamp, said firefighting teams have been battling raging fires in the area between Kuruman and Danielskuil, Kuruman and Kathu and in the Lohatla area over the past four days.
“The fires have broken out in the exact same area as they did in 2021. Untold damage has been caused to thousands of hectares of land and livestock. Three houses in the Savanna area between Kuruman and Danielskuil also burnt to the ground,” said Aucamp on Sunday.
He added that he had requested the MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole, to provide aerial assistance to fight the fires.
“As soon as the fire is under control, I will also request the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, to declare the area a state of disaster.
“Having experienced crippling devastation two years in a row, is an extreme burden on farmers. It is crucial to ensure that support is immediately availed to those who have incurred damages and to provide ongoing feed for the surviving livestock.”
Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform spokesperson Zandisile Luphahla said on Sunday that more than 80,000 hectares of grazing land was destroyed by veld fires.
“The area adjacent the R31 road between Danïelskuil and Kuruman, moving towards Lohatla military base, as well as on the N14 between Kuruman and Kathu, has been affected.”
Manopole expressed her gratitude to the South African National Defence Force for deploying an Oryx helicopter to control the fire near the base and nearby farms.
She cautioned the public, road users and farmers and residents to be on high alert and to report any outbreak to the local disaster management team and fire controllers in the area.
“We have not received a report on loss of life or on infrastructure damage caused by the fire. Our team will do an assessment on damages caused as the situation gets under control.”
Manopole added that the department would provide fodder from its fodder banks to assist farmers whose grazing land had been destroyed by the fires.
