Overberg fires kills man, razes shakes
Overberg fires kills man, razes shakes
4 January 2010
published by saweatherobserver.blogspot.com
South Africa — In one of the latest fires to hit the Overberg, a man was killed when a blaze broke out in an informal settlement in Gansbaai.
This incident, however, is not linked to the recent spate of veld fires in the region, which authorities believe were the work of an arsonist. Firefighters worked tirelessly last week to control flames in the Agulhas Plain, between Pearly Beach and Struisbaai, which finally died on Thursday after burning for days. Two more fires, one between Botriver and Franschhoek and the other in the mountains at Greyton, also kept authorities busy. These two fires were still burning yesterday, but firefighters had them under control.
Overstrand fire chief Riaan Jacobs said they did not believe the blaze in Masakhane informal settlement in Gansbaai was connected to last week’s fires.
“It started at around 1am and we contained it quite quickly,” he said. “Although the cause is not yet known for definite, it is not related to the others.”
Police said Rabukana Mothano, 31, was killed and about 10 shacks burnt down when the settlement caught alight. An inquest docket had been opened, said police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.
Overberg District Municipality disaster and fire chief Reinard Geldenhuys said he was relieved that the fire in the Agulhas Plain had been extinguished. They were now focusing on the Botriver blaze.
