The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is appealing to farmers and land users to be alert, and prepare themselves in terms of reducing the risk of veld fires on their properties as well as combating veld fires that might occur.
Last year about 130 000 hectares of grazing land in Frances Baard and John Taolo Gaetsewe District municipalities were ravaged by veld fires. Annually, veld fires result in disastrous losses of natural grazing land, animals and in some instance it can lead to the loss of human lives. The department is also making a plea to motorist not to throw away cigarettes butts when driving and people must not leave any fires unattended.
Large parts of the province are prone to veld fires, especially this time of the year. These sporadic blazes are in the main caused by the natural state of the vegetation as well and the prevailing winds resulting from the winter season climate conditions that are favourable to runaway veld fires.
Veld fires are a serious threat to the agricultural sector, and land users are urged to adhere to the following risk reduction measures:
- Ensure fire-fighting equipment’s are easily accessible and in good working conditions;
- Be aware of and participate in the local Fire Protection Association (FPA) activities and plans;
- Control and restrict open fires e.g. creation of veld fire belts; and
- Monitor areas for possible veld fires and report them immediately to local Fire Protection Association, applicable municipality, the Extension Office or South African Police Service or, and have the relevant contact numbers at hand.
Farmers and land users are advised to contact their respective municipalities in the following numbers to report veld fires:
Sol Plaatje
Tel: 053 832 4211
John Taolo Gaetsewe
Tel: 053 712 0457 or 10117
Pixley Ka Seme
Tel: 053 631 0088 or 053 631 0397
Siyanda
Tel: 054 337 2815
Namaqua
Tel: 027 712 8039 or 027 3418124
The department’s Sustainable Resource Management Unit will continuously monitor the conditions.
Enquiries:
Phemelo Manankong
External Communications Officer
Tel: 053 839 7881
Cell: 071 889 5112
E-mail: pmanankong@ncpg.gov.za
Source: Northern Cape Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development
