21 October 2021

The Northern Cape Departments of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform & Rural Development together with Corporate Governance, Human Settlement Traditional Affairs, wish to warn road users and community at large, to be on the alert when using the N12 road between Ritchie and Hopetown, as veldfires have spiralled out of control.The fires are exacerbated by changes in strong winds direction from Northerly to Westerly, which has caused a large scale spread of both fires over extended fire fronts this afternoon.

The Frances Baard District municipality has sent out the disaster management team to fight the fire. They are on the ground trying to put the fire out, however, strong winds are making it difficult to contain the fires.So far, more than 43000 hectares of land (including grazing) is reported to have been destroyed by the fire, over a large area and local landowners described the fires as totally out of control. Several agricultural and tourism sector infrastructure has been destroyed and severely damaged, while large scale stock and game losses has occurred.We urge individuals to stay clear of the area and report any possible spread out of the fire.The Provincial Government will continually assess the damages coursed by the fire and in the interim release emergency fodder from its Fodder Bank to assist affected farmers to feed their livestock.

THIS IS A JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, RURAL DEVELOPMENT & LAND REFORM AND THE NORTHERN CAPE COGHSTA.

Media enquiries: Babalwa Mzambo 083 390 1974 (Coghsta) and Zandisile Luphahla 083 391 5388 (DAEARDLR)

Mr Zandisile Luphahla
Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson to the MEC
Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development. Northern Cape

Mobile: 083 391 5388
Email: zluphahla@ncpg.gov.za / luphahlaz@yahoo.com