Veld fires an ongoing threat
As the dry winter months approach, the risk of veld fires increase. The North-West Province has a high fire danger, and veld fires have been breaking out more regularly in the past few weeks.
Other provinces that are at high risk include Gauteng, the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. Veld fires are a major risk for farms, game reserves and lodges, and can cause devastating damages to food supplies, kill or injure animals, and destroy houses and other property.
With the North West being the fourth largest contributor to agricultural produce in South Africa, veld fires are a danger that does not just affect the people directly involved, but also food supplies. This week Tuesday, there were six veld fires between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom.
Six veld fires were spotted along the N12 between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. (Pictures: Charma du Plessis)
Veld fires are not always dangerous or devastating. Controlled veld fires are a valuable practice for farmers. It helps control pests, gets rid of plants that are inedible to livestock, and helps create barriers to control the spread of wild veld fires by removing flammable vegetation.
Tersia Kleynhans, spokesperson for Khora Lion Park and cattle farm situated about 40 kilometres outside of Potchefstroom, experienced the devastating effects of a veld fire on 18 August 2020. The fire started about 10km away from the farm, and was brought under control by 11pm that evening. The next morning, however, severe winds reignited the fire, and the Kleynhans family’s house was lost to the blaze.
None of the Kleynhans’ farmlands were destroyed in the blaze, and no lives were lost. The lion and cattle encampments that were scorched by the fire grew back quickly due to a good rainy season, and minimal assistance regarding feed was needed. If that weren’t the case, however, and it were a dry season, feed could have been an issue.
According to Santam, if veld fires aren’t kept under control during high risk weather, the effects could be severe. Because of climate change, South Africa is expected to have increased temperatures and drought periods, which increases the chances of veld fires. Almost 99% of all veld fires are caused by human negligence, which means there’s something that can be done about it.
