By Tselane Moiloa
DEWESTSDORP – Official investigations into the cause of the veld fires which cost Free State farmers over R350 million two weeks ago are currently underway, Deputy-director for Forest and Veld Fire Oversight in Free State, Malcolm Procter has said.
“Forensic investigators are in Free State to find out how the fires started. You cannot go out there and accuse people of starting fires when you do not know how it started,” Procter told Public Eye on Thursday, August 23. The results of the investigations would also be used by some of the farmers to lay charges against those found guilty of starting the fires.
Last week, there was a claim that the veld fires were started by sparks which emanated from the power lines after they came into contact due to the strong winds that buffeted the province. Subsequent claims suggested that municipal dumpsites were the source of the fires.
However, Procter said more still needs to be done and no-one can be accused of starting the fires. He confirmed that four cases had been opened, but could not divulge the finer details on who laid them or against whom.
“I can confirm that four cases have been opened but I cannot go into details about them. But you cannot go out there and accuse people without proof. No-one can say it is Eskom or municipalities,” Procter said. The chairperson of the Dewestsdorp Agricultural Union Willem Lombard confirmed that they would also lay charges, but are still waiting for the conclusion of investigations.
“Our attorneys are on the case and there are investigations which are going on to establish where the fire started. We will know in about two weeks time and it is only then when the charges will be laid,” Lombard said.
Dewetsdorp and Wepener were the worst affected areas in Free State, where fires caused over R350 million in damages in some areas including Memel, Verkeerdevlei and Fickburg.
Relief efforts from farmers unions and private institutions were still pouring in to help farmers who had lost most, if not all, of their grazing land. Farmers whose land was destroyed have moved some cattle to land which was temporarily offered by farmers who still had land in good condition.
While the fire season has not yet ended, farmers are still hoping for early rains which would help with the recovery of the soil expected to take over a year before they can move back to the their land.