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Veld fires have been ravishing the Eastern Cape with little to no rain in sight in the coming weeks.
Reports from district municipalities say crops, livestock and thousands of hectares of land have been destroyed.
The MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nonceba Kontsiwe, held a press conference on Tuesday, detailing how they sought to assist communal farmers with their ongoing battle with the blazes destroying their livelihoods.
They have also vowed to assist affected communities by starting food hubs and home gardens, to assist impoverished communities while stimulating economic growth.
A recent report from the Chris Hani District Municipality, said teams from different local municipalities have been deployed to contain the fires in the region.
Thousands of hectares of veld have been destroyed in Enoch Mgijima, Emalahleni and Intsika Yethu Local Municipalities since the veld fires began.
The team, including volunteers and the Farmers Fire Protection Association, battled strong winds and the spreading fire in the Lawrence de lange Game Reserve and nearby mountains,
Residents and motorists were urged to be extra vigilant, as thick smoke spread towards the N6, causing impaired visibility for motorists.
Municipality spokesperson, Bulelwa Ganyaza, said their teams are still on the ground conducting assessments, and that no deaths have yet been reported.
Meanwhile, the weather conditions in the Eastern Cape in September are showing no signs of rain. According to Weather25, we can expect no more than three rainy days, while temperatures will range between 13°C and 20°C and 46mm of rain.
In October, the forecast is 14°C and a high of up to 21°C with 73mm of rainfall.
“You can expect about 3 to 8 days of rain in Eastern Cape during October.”
