After 200 animals including sheep and goats were burned to death and a large tract of grazing land destroyed by runaway fires in Qumbu recently, the provincial government delivered essentials to affected farmers this week.
On Monday, rural development and agrarian reform MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe led a delegation of officials to hand over animal feed to the farmers.
Kontsiwe said the farmers — one of whom lost nearly 100 sheep — had appealed to the government for assistance as they feared the animals that survived the fires could die from starvation as there was no grazing grass left.
They had requested, through farmers’ associations, that the devastating fires be declared a disaster.
The veld fires killed 171 sheep and 29 goats, with 38 animals injured.
Zilandani and Mahlungulu villages were the worst hit by the veld fires, with Tsilithwa, Nyanisweni and Mtondela villages also affected.
The farmers requested that the department conduct awareness campaigns to help prevent veld fires, as well as support farmers with fodder production initiatives.
The MEC said the department was providing immediate relief, supporting livestock recovery, and would help with long-term rehabilitation efforts.
“For now, we are providing feed to the farmers and when we sit down, we will see what else we can do to provide further assistance,” Kontsiwe said.
“We commit that we will continue to support them.
“The province is planning to provide some rams to the farmers to ensure there is growth in the flocks but, for now, we cannot say how many rams we are going to provide for the affected communities.
“The breeding animals will ensure that farmers restock and increase numbers, while improving the gene quality.
“We know one of the farmers has lost more than 90 sheep in the fire and many more [animals] were left badly burnt and injured.
“You can imagine the stress he is going through.
“The support from veterinary services and the support we are going to give, in addition to the feed, will at least console the farmers.”
The MEC called on community and traditional leaders, councillors, stock owners, farmers’ associations and other sectors to work with the department to avoid veld fires.
“We must caution people against burning grazing land and avoid things like this which could even cost human life,” she said.
The fires had not been declared a disaster, she said.
“But we are engaging the co-operative government and traditional affairs department to see if it could not be declared a disaster.
“The department has engaged the Provincial Disaster Management Centre intending to assess the impact of the veld fires.”
Zilandana Farming Association head Mjekula Soyekwa said the farmers were happy with the MEC’s swift response.
“This feed will ensure that our animals are not starved. This is most appreciated.
“We hope the department will assist us with those rams and can also provide us with ewes.
“But we are thankful for what the MEC has done for us.
“The economic impact of the fires is extensive.”
Qumbu farmers said the damage had amounted to about R2m, he said.
Emerging farmer Mabhozo Yilo, 64, lost 98 of his sheep.
“I am still not right. This has [affected] my health as I have lost almost everything.”
A relative of his, Madidizela Dicks Yilo, lost 40 of his flock of 280 sheep, and 70 were injured.
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