Veld fires still burning across the country

Veld fires continued to burn in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, fire authorities said.

Working on Fire spokesperson Val Charlton said seven fires were currently burning across Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

“Two of the fires have been contained and five are still ongoing. All air-water resources have been dispatched.

The fire-conducive weather is going to continue for the next couple of days,” she said.

In KwaZulu-Natal, one fire had been contained and two fires were still burning in Eston, Fire Stop said.

Free State farmers affected by recent veld fires were given bales of fodder by provincial agriculture minister Mamiki Qhabathe over the weekend. Spokesperson Thato Mokoena said Qhabathe visited about five farms in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district on Saturday and distributed a few hundred bales to farmers.

A 68-year-old woman died in veld fires in Eshowe on Saturday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Inspector Mbongeni Mdlalose said the woman was in a hut in her homestead at Emabhudle Reserve in Kwa Khoza, Eshowe, when she saw fires racing towards her at about 5pm on Friday. She ran and hid in a bush.

“The fire caught her there and she died on the scene.”

Mdlalose said a 14-year-old girl was taken to hospital in Mbongolwane on Friday just after 1pm after she zuffered smoke inhalation.

He said ten houses were also reported to have been destroyed by veld fires in Gingindlovu just outside Eshowe.

On Friday, 11 veld fires were reported across Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

Seven of South Africa’s nine provinces have been hit recently by over 100 fires fanned by strong winds.

Over 30 people have lost their lives in KwaZulu-Natal. While there have been a small number of human fatalities in other provinces, thousands of animals have died and tens of thousands of hectares of land been destroyed. - Sapa