Acting mayor speaks out after 49-year-old is killed in veld fire

25 July 2020

Published by https://vryheidherald.co.za/

SOUTH AFRICA – Acting Mayor Mncedisi Maphisa has extended his condolences following the death of an elderly man who lost his life this week due to a veld fire in Vaalbank near Vryheid.

Maphisa said that fires have detrimental consequences on the lives of the community, livestock and vegetation, and that people need to minimise starting fires out in the veld. “The bush fires that are spreading across our communities have become a cause for great concern, as they have proven to be getting out of hand and have produced detrimental consequences for some people in some areas. It has come to my attention that the current bush fires have had a disastrous impact where they have claimed a life within the Vryheid area, which is very saddening, as it is a loss of a human life that could only be just the beginning. “As a result, I wish to appeal to the citizens of Vryheid at large to please do away with the act of burning bushes, as this not only can lead to death, but also affects human health and can lead to major disasters that will pull us back from making progress in the delivery of services to the people,” said Maphisa.

He said the damage caused by the fires could take decades to restore. “This could affect the lives of those who heavily rely on agricultural means as a way of living and sustaining their livestock. I therefore wish to appeal to all citizens to take it upon themselves to stop any form of fire they may come across as a way to save lives and also conserve the environment. I further wish to implore people who start fires to put a halt on this activity and find other ways to achieve the desired outcome without posing a threat to people’s lives and the environment. With the current Covid-19 pandemic, we cannot afford to have our air polluted by smoke, as we heavily rely on clean, fresh air to aid us in our breathing and keeping our respiratory systems fully functional so as to reduce our chances of being overcome with Covid-19.

“I would further wish to urge our people to continue adhering to the hygiene standards as a way to protect themselves against the virus and also for those who have tested positive to focus their strength on recovering and reuniting with their families. We pray for everyone’s safety during this time; may Almighty God be with each and every one of you and see all of us through this very difficult time we are faced with, not just as a country but as the entire world.”