Uncontrolled veld fires are ravaging Eastern Cape agriculture, destroying infrastructure, livestock, and jobs. MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe calls for urgent community action and farmer support to combat the crisis.
The people of the Eastern Cape must come together to combat the causes of the smouldering veld fires that continue to ravage our province’s telecommunications, electricity, road signage, agricultural facilities, building infrastructure, grazing camps, and animals.
Every fire is caused by a human being, an individual so reckless as to be indifferent to the pernicious effects of these fires, which are destroying our economy and the livelihoods of scores of people who depend on the vibrancy and stability of the agricultural sector.
We are developing agriculture in rural villages and farms, building infrastructure, cropping, fencing grazing camps, farms, maize fields, and improving livestock. We support farmers to earn income from selling produce and growing our economy. However, veld fires destroy this beautiful work.
Our province is currently facing widespread, uncontrolled veld fires, which are devastating our agricultural businesses, jobs for farm workers, and our economy. These fires affect all farmers and farm workers who rely on livestock, crops, and forestry for their sustenance and economic stability.
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Veld fires hinder our efforts to grow the provincial economy and combat poverty, as they destroy the assets that farmers and other local businesses have invested their sweat and blood in building – creating food for our province and generating income that repays business loans, while also affecting workers’ salaries.
During various efforts to stop the spread of these fires, the support provided to firefighting teams, donations of animals and animal feed to farmers whose animals died because of the fires, and the coming together of communities to defend themselves against this enormous blaze, warmed the cockles of my heart.
At present, we do not know what started these fires. In the past, reckless individuals started fires in their communities, sometimes by throwing cigarette butts into the grass or leaving unattended fires in their homes or open spaces. We are also aware that some veld fires are sparked when farmers lose control of fires intended to create fire belts or firebreaks to prevent the spread of fires.
We call on the people of the province who may have evidence about who started these fires to bring it to the law enforcement agencies so that a proper investigation can be conducted, and those responsible can be charged and prosecuted.
We warn the public that starting fires in open areas without the required permission from fire protection associations or agricultural authorities is a criminal offence that also poses a serious threat to both the environment and public safety.
These fires also pose a significant risk to human life and property.
The department has been overwhelmed with requests for help from farmers affected by ongoing fires.
The National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No. 101 of 1998), which regulates fire management, emphasises the need for firebreaks, notification, and the formation of Fire Protection Associations (FPAs). The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (No. 43 of 1983) brings requirements for permission for veld burning and regulates its use in grazing camps.
We urge residents to safeguard their areas by setting up fire protection associations that must work with municipalities to protect their communities from fire problems. Addressing this issue requires a collective effort and responsibility to protect the environment and the livelihood of those affected. Communities must ensure that perpetrators of veld fires are held accountable and reported to the authorities to face the full force of the law.
As the department, we do not have compensation for those affected by veld fires. Even the feed that was diverted from other programmes as a temporary measure is not a sustainable solution to the problem.
Urgent support and future prevention measures
South Africa has fire-prone ecosystems characterised by alternating wet and dry seasons, which contribute to high fire risks. Factors exacerbating these risks include urban development in fire-prone areas, invasive plant species, and unmanaged fuel loads.
We need farmers and communities to work together with the government and other social partners to stop these fires. This must be a farmer and community-led intervention.
We want to encourage communal farmers and smallholder farmers to formalise their businesses and take out insurance policies for their agricultural assets, so they are covered against such occurrences.
The department encourages farmers to apply for our farmer support programmes, which close on 30 September 2024. Forms can be accessed at all department offices and on our website. Applications are for the crop production programme, production infrastructure support programme, livestock production improvement scheme, and household food production programme.
Farmers who have not benefited from these programmes in previous financial years and who meet the set criteria are invited to submit applications to the department through the nearest offices to where they operate their agricultural enterprises.
- Nonceba Kontsiwe is the Eastern Cape rural development and agrarian reform MEC and a member of the provincial legislature. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Food For Mzansi.
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