FOLLOWING the veld fires that wreaked havoc in the Mopani and Vhembe districts in Limpopo, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Basikopo Makamu is calling for awareness on fire education.
This follows a recent veld fire disaster in Bela Bela on Sunday, 24 September, on a farm which left 56 households destroyed and eight structures partially damaged.
The fire also gutted almost 9 000 hectares of grazing land, leaving two workers injured and countless animals needing veterinarian services.
MEC Makamu said the province is experiencing peaking temperatures and what remains of the dry winter fire season.
Fire Danger Index (Fdi) trends released by SA Weather Services show the index patterns consistently hitting extreme levels, hovering above 77 for Limpopo.
“Under these conditions, fires may develop and spread rapidly, resulting in damage to property and possible loss of human or animal life,” he said.
Makamu said according to the Water Affairs Fire Danger Classifications, out of 22 local municipalities in Limpopo, 18 are situated in a fire danger region.
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“They are Makhuduthamaga, Fetakgomo, Makhado, Blouberg, Molemole, Polokwane, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Thabazimbi, Modimolle-Mookgophong, Bela Bela, Mogalakwena, Maruleng, Greater Giyani, Greater Letaba, Greater Tzaneen, Ba-Phalaborwa, Musina, and Thulamela municipalities,” he said.
Makamu said they must raise the levels of awareness in communities, especially the most vulnerable.
“This calls for rising standards by us as government, our fire brigade services in the municipalities, Working of Fire, Fire Protections Associations and other role players in their private spaces,” he said.
Makamu has encouraged community members to pay attention to fire danger index information circulated on municipal and working on fire social media pages.
“Community members are discouraged from starting fires in open areas and motorists to refrain from recklessly discarding unextinguished cigarette buds on the road,” he said.
