Urgent Help Needed After ‘Horrendous’ Hertzogville Fires, Says Saai
Farmers, farmworkers and their families have been left heartbroken in the Hertzogville area in the Free State, South Africa, where huge fires have destroyed fields and killed several hundred animals. The fire was possibly started by the flames of burning tyres lit by service protesters. SA Agri Initiative (Saai), an organisation that represents the interests […]
Farmers, farmworkers and their families have been left heartbroken in the Hertzogville area in the Free State, South Africa, where huge fires have destroyed fields and killed several hundred animals. The fire was possibly started by the flames of burning tyres lit by service protesters.
SA Agri Initiative (Saai), an organisation that represents the interests of family farmers across South Africa, said its heart goes out to those in the small cattle and sheep farming region who have lost livestock, pastures, fences and other infrastructure, as well as income of assets in the destructive fires that raged in the area between Christiana, Hoopstad, Dealsville and Bultfontein.
Saai Chairperson Dr Theo de Jager said in a statement that although the losses are still to be determined, “damages have already reached disastrous proportions. Several hundred cattle, sheep and game burnt to death or were so mutilated that they had to be put down.”
Saai is hoping and pressurising the government into providing disaster relief, but says “government has a poor recent track record of discrimination, fraud and nepotism in terms of disaster relief”.
Saai has committed to work together with as many network partners as possible to organise farmer-to-farmer assistance and to support families to help them stay on their farms.
Saai says: “There are alarming reports that the fires started as a result of burning tyres during service delivery protests on the R708 road between Hertzogville and Christiana. The SAPS faces a major challenge in Hertzogville to investigate and prosecute to the same extent as with the Senekal charges and prosecutions for the sake of trust and legitimacy. If the legal process is not perceived to enforce responsibility and accountability, the integrity and stability of the whole polity is being undermined.”
Farmers from elsewhere in the country who can provide support in the form of fodder or other resources, or sympathisers who want to contribute to the transportation of fodder to the disaster area, area asked to please contact Saai at 066 071 6094.
“Relief will be provided to farmers in cooperation with all interested and willing organisations in a non-discriminating, transparent manner, regardless of the farmers’ affiliations, membership, race, political preferences, church or language group. Anyone who knows of (someone in) serious need in the area can bring it to Saai’s attention.”
WATCH VIDEOS Fires rage in Hertzogville
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