Thousands of hectares of grazing land were destroyed, and millions of rands in damages and loss of livestock are some of the stark reminders of the pain caused by the recent blazing veld fires that targeted certain areas around the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM).
The veld fires were on- -and- -off for a period of 10 days between August 10 and 28, when the final fire was extinguished on the last morning.
CHDM municipal spokesperson Bulelwa Ganyaza said 70 per cent of grazing land in Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality (LM) was destroyed by the running veld fires, while 60 per cent of the much-needed grazing land was burnt out in Emalahleni LM.
“The veld fire incidents started from Zingquthu spreading to the Bonkolo Dam area, neighbouring farms and the game reserve. In the second incident from R67, the fire started from the neighbouring village of Who Can Tell, destroying about 800 hectares of grazing land. Another fire started from the side of Zwartwater, spreading to all neighbouring farms and Madeira Mountain back to the west side of the game reserve, and about 17 000 hectares were destroyed by the fire. The damages thus far are estimated above R30.3 million,” Ganyaza said.
In Bolothwa, she said, 654 hectares of grazing land burned, with 30 hectares and sheep catching fire in Manzimdaka. Ganyaza said the inferno ruined 60 per cent of Enoch Mgijima LM, and 70 per cent in Intsika Yethu LM, with 30 per cent of grazing land obliterated in Inxuba Yethemba LM and Sakhisizwe LM respectively.
The affected areas in the local municipalities were the Bonkolo Dam basin, Aloe Grove, the Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve and R67 farms, Who Can Tell village, Zwartwater, Thwaku, and the Guba farms. Manzimdaka Village, Ngqwarhu Hills and Zingquthu were also some of the affected areas. A total of 800 hectares was annihilated by the veld fires.
The dry, extremely windy conditions are further worsening the spread of veld fires in different parts of the district municipality.
“In Komani, CHDM Fire and Emergency Services team working with Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, Farmers’ Fire Protection Association, and volunteers are currently at Lawrence de Lange Game Reserve and nearby mountains, trying to quell the runaway fires with thick smoke spreading towards N6 causing impaired visibility for motorists,” she said.
The district authority, Ganyaza said, was warning motorists to be cautious. There were no deaths that had been reported, and the teams were still on the ground in various areas closely monitoring the situation and conducting assessments.
“Residents are urged to be extra vigilant,” she said.
