Call on minister to declare fire-ravaged parts of NC, FS disaster areas

THE PORTFOLIO committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development in the National Assembly has called on the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, to declare the areas in the Northern Cape and the Free State affected by huge and widespread veld fires disaster areas.

“In the wake of the raging veld fires which occurred on October 18, 2020, many farms in areas such as Hertzogville, Hoopstad, Bultfontein and Dealesville have been destroyed,” the Parliamentary Communication Services, said in a statement.

“There have been huge losses of property, livestock and game.”

The portfolio committee stated further that it commended the farmers and farming communities for saving lives and ensuring that there were no casualties, and for acting swiftly to prevent further devastation and decimation of property.

The chairperson of the committee, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, added that she trusted that the investigation would rule out the possibility of arson. “It is inconceivable why anyone would want to cause such widespread destruction.”