Mpumalanga fire ravaged farmers to get R16m relief
Mpumalanga fire ravaged farmers to get R16m relief
9 August 2007
published by www.sabcnews.com
South Africa — The Mpumalanga government has announced a R16 million relief fund for farmers whose grazing land was ravaged by veld fires last week. Fires caused millions of rands damage.
Farmers have also lost hundreds of livestock. The provincial cabinet decided to avail the amount as temporary relief until a full assessment of the damage has been completed. Mpumalanga farmers have welcomed government’s plans to provide the R16 million fodder relief. The relief will go to farmers that were the hardest hit by the recent run away fires. Up to now, an estimated 40 000 hectares of plantation and 15 000 hectares of grazing land have been destroyed.
The devastating fires broke out two weeks ago. In the Sabie, Graskop, Lydenburg and Machadodorp areas, fires left despair. Farmers not only lost numerous live stock but also grazing fields. No grazing fields were left on an 800 hectare stud farm. The provincial government says a full assessment of the damage would be completed within the next two weeks.
