Land battles to blame for blazes?

2008-09-01 22:53

Durban - Land claim disputes may have been behind some of the fires that claimed the lives of 14 people and devastated homes and commercial farmland, the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) said in a statement on Monday.

The union, which represents the interests of commercial farmers in the province, said: "It is alleged that in some areas where these fires started, that they are linked to land claim issues.

"Frustration levels are boiling over and it is believed that fires could help to push people off their land."

Kwanalu chief executive Sandy le Marque said that "this was the message we are getting from the ground [from members]".

She said the areas where Kwanalu members had reported their concerns were in the Underberg, Winterton and Melmoth areas.

Mthonjaneni municipality, in which Melmoth is located, was reported to be one of the worst affected areas.

"These concerns were expressed in the fires of last year. There is huge pressure on the land and things are not moving along fast enough."

Municipalities, telecoms sector slammed

In its statement, signed by Le Marque and union president Robin Barnsley, the union criticised both local municipalities as well the telecommunications sector.

"Farming communities have spent the past few days fighting fires bravely whilst little or no support has been forthcoming from municipalities and their officials," the statement read.

According to the statement, in the Melmoth area the blaze destroyed more than 5 000ha, including 3 hectares of avocados and 113 hectares of sugar cane.

"Most tragically of all 14 people died as a result of the fires, and the losses are still being counted."

The union reported that in the Ntambanana area more than 10 000ha went up in flames. The area is primarily a subsistence agriculture area.

It challenged both Telkom and cellphone operators to improve their service.

"Whilst fighting fires and putting our lives at risk we had no communications, our Telkom cables were either stolen or burnt, cellphone networks, both MTN and Vodacom, were not operational, or we had no signals.

"How do we try and save lives, homesteads etc, with no communications?"

- SAPA