IN response to a veld fire that left at least 13 families homeless, the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality has declared a local state of disaster.
The fire engulfed at least 13 homes, a lodge and 10 hectares of land, leaving families homeless.
It started on Saturday, 16 September until Sunday morning, 17 September in the northern part of Phalaborwa, Limpopo.
A preliminary report shows the fire to have started near a local South African National Defence Force (SANDF) camp and spread through vegetation and thatched roofs thereafter.
Windy conditions and dry vegetation made it difficult for firefighters to deal with the blaze, which is believed to have been ignited by high temperatures, but they eventually managed to extinguish it on Sunday morning, 17 September.
MEC Basikopo Makamu visited the area on Monday, 18 September to assess the damage and provide the victims with food and supplies and also offer them support.
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Makamu was accompanied by Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality Mayor Merriam Malatji and Mopani District Municipality Executive Mayor Pule Shayi.
Subsequently, they visited the Dutch Reformed church, which generously offered its premises to store food and supplies for the affected families.
Additionally, they visited the devastation of what was once the Elegant Guesthouse which was burnt to ashes.
The owner of Elegant Guesthouse, Yolinda Sullwald shared her distressing experience with Daily Sun, revealing that she lost all her savings and belongings, estimated at R20 million, in the fire.
“We are all saddened by the loss of our homes and properties due to the fire but we were fortunate that there were no fatalities, although some families are now left homeless.
"I still feel like it's a dream that our luxury guest house, which was initially our family home and later transformed into a guest house in the year 2000, was reduced to ashes in just a few hours," she said.
Co-Operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs spokesman Hitekani Magwedze said no lives were lost in the incident, and investigations into what started the fire are underway.
“The displaced victims are currently being accommodated in the nearby Cajori Hotel and other surrounding lodges where food packages are being provided while further assessments take place,” he said.
Makamu stressed the immediate need to secure temporary accommodations for these displaced families.
“I have seen some of the burnt houses here can be repaired and I think we have a grant from the department that we can assess to support them. It’s in a suburb here and many people were having very expensive nice houses, but now we want to get them temporary shelters,” he said.
Makamu expressed his gratitude to the residents of Phalaborwa for their support, which included donations of food, clothes and furniture to the families who lost their homes.
