29 November 2023

MEDIA STATEMENT: JTG FARMERS CAPACITATED ON VELD FIRES

The Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform in collaboration with Agri-Northern Cape held a two day veldfires training for emerging farmers in Kuruman - John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, 23rd till 24th November 2023.

The significant of the two-day training seeks to empower emerging farmers on the reasonable understanding of the risks and impact associated with the uncontrolled spread of veldfires.

Farmers were also encouraged on how to safely participate in the effective suppression of veldfires in a fast moving fine fuels as part of a supervised team. It was also to equip them about the disaster preventative measures for uncontrolled man-made fires at the District.

training entails;

• Personal Risks Associated with veldfires in Northern Cape Province
• Veldfires awareness and Prevention
• National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998
• Structure of veldfires
• Basic veldfires behavior
• Veldfires Suppression Tools and Equipment
• Fine Fuel Suppression Techniques and Tactics
• Fire-line Safety
• Special Hazard

These sporadic fires in the main are caused by the aridness of grass and shrubs during this time of the year as well as prevailing winds. Therefore, all land users, farmers, farmer dwellers and farm workers must be on high alert when dealing with veldfires.

Veldfires in the main, result in disastrous loss of natural grazing land, animals and properties while in some instance it leads to loss of human life. Hence, precautionary measures should be practiced at all times when dealing with veldfires.

According to the National Veld and Forestry Act, 1998 chapter 5, the Act plays a duty on all owners to acquire equipment and have available personnel to fight fires. It gives certain persons and officials permission to enter land and fight fires in an emergency situation. The Act also provides for an agreement to be entered into between the Minister and the Fire Protection Associations or between such associations to assist each other in the case of fire. The two-day training attended by 142 emerging farmers in Kuruman - John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality converged under one roof to be capacitated on veldfires.

The two-day exercise attended by 142 emerging farmers in Kuruman – John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality converged under one roof to be capacitated on veldfires.

The Disaster Management Unit’s Deputy Director, Ms Kumang Moji outlined that the training strive to empower them on the reasonable understanding of the risks and impact associated with uncontrolled spread of veldfires. “Farmers were encouraged and did the practical work on how to safely participate in the effective suppression of veldfires in a fast moving fine fuels as part of a supervised team. It was also to equip them about the disaster preventative measures for uncontrolled man-made fires at the District.

training entails;

• Personal Risks Associated with veldfires in Northern Cape Province
• Veldfires awareness and Prevention
• National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998
• Structure of veldfires
• Basic Veldfires behavior
• Veldfires Suppression Tools and Equipment
• Fine Fuel Suppression Techniques and Tactics
• Fire-line Safety
• Special Hazard

Emphasised Ms Kumang. According to the National Veld and Forestry

According to the National Veld and Forestry Act, 1998 chapter 5, the Act plays a duty on all owners to acquire equipment and have available personnel to fight fires. It gives certain persons and officials permission to enter land and fight fires in an emergency situation. The Act also provides for an agreement to be entered into between the Minister and the Fire Protection Associations or between such associations to assist each other in the case of fire.

Mr Bongani Silingile – Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC
Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs,
Rural Development and Land Reform
Cell: 082 675 1841
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://daerl.ncpg.gov.za/