34 die in KZN fires

2008-09-02 21:17

Durban - At least 34 people have been killed by the fires that raged through northern KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend, the KwaZulu-Natal Health Department said.

In a statement issued by the department on Tuesday, spokesperson Sebe Zwane said: "At least 34 people were killed during this disaster and scores were injured."

Zwane praised the province's health professionals as well as the provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Service for their efforts during the weekend.

"The situation could have been worse, it took selfless and dedicated service men and women like the members of the EMRS to ensure that the loss of life remains minimal.

"They worked long hours to ensure that lives were saved. Their efforts are highly appreciated."

While all of EMRS' figures were not available, Zwane said that in the uThungulu and Umkhanyakude district municipalities 56 people had been admitted to various hospitals.

Most major fires under control

Earlier in the day local government spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the death toll had risen to 20.

Most of the major fires which raged through KwaZulu-Natal have been brought under control.

Ntambanana municipal manager Ray Mnguni said there was "very little left" in the municipality that had not been burnt. The rural municipality is located midway between the towns of Empangeni and Melmoth.

"I can't even begin to estimate the damage. I am aware of 179 homes, but I can't give you any estimates. It's too early," he said.

No help forthcoming

Mnguni said provincial officials, including KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele, had visited the area on Monday, but that so far there had been no help forthcoming.

He said the municipality would be opening an account for people to make donations towards relief efforts. Details would be announced shortly.

Agriculture MEC Mtholephi Mthimkulu said he had instructed officials of his department to undertake an urgent stock-take of the areas affected to determine what assistance his department would need to render.

He said campaigns to educate people about the dangers of fires would also be launched.

KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture Union chief executive Sandy La Marque said a preliminary assessment had revealed that in Melmoth the damage was estimated at R296m.

She said she still did not have figures for damage to commercial farmland in other areas.

'Little done in terms of prevention'

The main opposition party in the province, the Inkatha Freedom Party, has criticised KZN MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mike Mabuyakhulu's department. Mabuyakhulu is political head of disaster management in the province,

IFP agriculture spokesperson Henry Combrinck said: "Clearly very little if anything has been done in terms of prevention to help the areas and farmers that are likely to be affected by wildfires.

"For all its rhetoric, the provincial government has failed to deliver on its promises to help the victims of last year's wildfires, let alone provide enough support for the current ones," said Combrinck in a statement on Tuesday.

Responding, Mabaso said: "This is not the time for pointing fingers nor scoring cheap publicity points."

He said that "this is a time for action" and that members of the legislature should "utilise that avenue to raise issues".

Combrinck said the IFP would demand that the ruling party provide the provincial legislature with "a comprehensive strategy detailing measures to help prevent large-scale wildfire damage in the future".

- SAPA