ANYONE caught slashing and burning or making fire belts in Mpumalanga this winter can be jailed for two years, warned the Mpumalanga Department of Water Affairs and Forestry on Monday. Department Spokesperson Dumisani Makhubela sid on Monday that since June 1, no one has been allowed allowed to slash and burn or make fire belts in certain districts of the province. The ban will be lifted on October 30. Block burning will be banned between August 1 and October 31. The affected districts are Pilgrim’s Rest, Lydenburg, White River, Nelspruit, Barberton, Belfast, Waterval Boven, Carolina, Eerstehoek, Ermelo, Piet Retief and Wakkerstroom. The fire ban excludes fires made within designated picnic areas and camping and holiday resorts. Cooking fires in residential areas are also excluded from the ban.