Residents of Kwaggafontein and Bushbuckridge in the Mpumalanga Province testified before the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries that their municipalities lack the means to put out veld and forest fires when they start, and as a result, when they do, the fires cause unspeakable damage.
Residents begged for protection and informed the committee that they feel exposed to fires.
In order to be better prepared to put out fires when they start, the inhabitants made an appeal to the committee for help with firefighting training, the provision of firefighting equipment including fire trucks and extinguishers, and the building of a dam.
As part of its travels to all the provinces, the committee held public hearings on the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill [B24-2021] in Mpumalanga to provide the public a chance to voice their opinions on the Bill.
The committee is aware that children and livestock have perished in the highlands as a result of out-of-control fires, Mr. Pogiso Modise, who served as the group’s chairperson, addressed the inhabitants of Kwaggafontein and Bushbuckridge settlements.
“Many of our kids have perished in shacks, and a great deal of animals and cattle have perished in fires.
We are here to provide you a chance to voice your opinions regarding the approaches to fighting fires, said Mr. Modise.
The committee was informed that wild fruit, which ladies from the poorest of the impoverished families pick to feed their children, is among the vegetation that is destroyed when there are fires.
Participants in the hearings from both communities urged the committee to make sure the Bill makes it clear if the Fire Protection Associations should be established at the district, provincial, or national levels and how the associations will help.
Residents of both settlements were informed by Mr. Pogiso Modise that the committee would consult with the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment regarding funding for resources and firefighting equipment for the affected areas.
Additionally, he informed them that the Minister is required by Section 7 of the main Act to support local communities in the creation of fire protection societies.