Durban — Farmers in various parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been left to count their losses after veld fires left devastation once again.
Also affected was essential power infrastructure belonging to the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
The sub-station which powers the Research Station of Agriculture in Kokstad under Harry Gwala District and two adjacent farms bore the brunt of the runaway fires in the early hours of Friday morning.
On Friday morning, firefighters from the Working On Fire crew, response teams, and the Kokstad Disaster Management unit were dispatched to assist the local farming community.
The fires were sustained by strong winds, which travelled at a speed of 27km/h. The fires were eventually contained later in the day.
The farming community has decried a serious staff shortage to fight the fires and battling cases of arson attacks by trespassers around the farms.
The farmers said this was the second-most devastating fire since 2019.
No casualties or livestock loss have been reported. Authorities said that while investigations continue to determine the cause of the fire, a suspected arson attack cannot be ruled out.
According to the DARD, veld fires destroyed about 700 hectares of grazing land and 58 bales, resulting in 56% of the damage to the affected farms and the research farm.
In July, the Greater Kokstad area experienced three fires, which resulted in agricultural losses estimated at R22 million.
These damages and losses in the district have led DARD MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa to ensure the department institutes some control measures to prevent further fires.
“We need to erect a mini fire station in the district to fight against these fires because it comes without any warning. It is important for us to prepare ourselves to fight against the veld fires in our research institutions,” said kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.
She also urged the community not to throw cigarette butts and burn fires around such institutions, as this will harm research results and food security.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa commended the firefighting crews from the Disaster Management teams and Working On Fire for their efforts that spared the rest of the farms from the near calamity of losing all the farms and their essential infrastructure and livestock.
She also urged locals to play their part in ensuring the safety of the farms.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa said it was observed that the area has people performing their cultural and religious rituals by lighting candles that are left unattended.
The department said veld fires continue to threaten farmers’ livelihoods.
Last month, seven firefighting crew members died while fighting a fire in Boston near eMpophomeni in the Midlands. It caused an estimated R93m in losses from dead livestock and burnt feed.
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