South Africa: Kwazulu-Natal Fires Claim Over 22 Lives
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
4 September 2008
Posted to the web 4 September 2008
Siboniso Ntuli
Pietermaritzburg
More than 22 people have been killed in the recent wildfires that have swept across KwaZulu-Natal.
"At the moment we can confirm that out of 32, only 24 have been certified dead and we are still waiting for a report on the other eight," said provincial MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu.
He said the areas affected were Bergville, Nkandla, eShowe and Pietermaritzburg.
Strong winds associated with high levels of humidity were experienced in many parts of the province over the weekend, he said.
The levels of humidity increased the province's risk of exposure to veld fires that were normally associated with such weather conditions.
According to the department's record, only 60 people have been reported to have sustained injuries during the fire.
MEC Mabuyakhulu also revealed that the number of households that were affected has increased to 1112 across the province.
He further urged the people of the province to be more conscious about the fires during September, due to windy and dry conditions.
"At the moment we are still trying to find out how much stock was damaged and how much crops was destroyed from the farmers and from the ordinary people," said Mr Mabuyakhulu.
Mr Mabuyakhulu also urged the members of the public to come forward if they have information about what caused the fire.
"If there are people involved they need to face the law, because there are people who died and others are now left homeless.
"The department will see what it can do to help the people affected by fire," said MEC Mabuyakhulu.
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MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs in the province Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said his department will be embarking on a campaign of educating farmers about safer ways of handling fires.
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