Eastern Cape farmers count cost of devastating fires

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Farmers in the Molteno, Sterkstroom, Dordrecht, Jamestown and Somerset-East areas suffered severe losses following a series of devastating veld fires last week.

Agri Eastern Cape says initial estimates indicate that approximately 45-thousand hectares of grazing and more than 300 cows, with and without calves, were destroyed.

It says small stock and infrastructural losses have not yet been determined.

Birds River Agricultural Association Chairman Johan Wege says they held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, to do a proper analysis of the extent of the fires and ultimate damage.

"We got quite a lot of assistance from the neighbouring farms, we've got food coming in from Tarkastad and Elliot. We busy organising some transport. We had SPCA members at a meeting last night, its important that the fire protection members stand together, we will fight this thing." says Wege.