20 August 2007
The Department of Local Government and Housing has appointed a team of fire
investigators to investigate the cause of the fires that recently ravaged some
parts of the province. The team has been appointed for a period of three weeks
and they are expected to submit their findings to the department no later than
7 September 2007.
Since the 26 July fires, reports indicate that 13 people have died due to
the fires, 27 were injured due to fire, 6 were injured in smoke related motor
vehicle accidents, several livestock were killed, 40 200 hectares of
plantations and at least 16 000 hectares of grazing fields have been destroyed
by the fires.
The Provincial Disaster Management Team is currently in the process of
coordinating the assessment of the damage as a result of the fires. All
relevant stakeholders and sector departments have began doing an assessment of
the damage in their respective fields. Once these reports have been compiled
they will then be consolidated by the Provincial Disaster Management Team into
a provincial assessment of the damage. It is envisaged that the assessment will
be completed in two weeks time.
Contact Person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3941
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
20 August 2007
