The dangers of veld fires were highlighted this week after a beloved resident died in an accident.

Franciscus Oberholzer (31), known by all his friends as ‘Obie’, was killed when his Toyota Fortuner struck a truck converted for firefighting at about 12:00 on July 19.

According to a relative, Jenifer Roberts, Oberholzer was on his way to help fight the same fire near Red Cap Ranch where the other vehicle was being used. His view was obscured by smoke from the fire in the road.

“My uncle, who was at the scene, says there was so much smoke that it looked like hell,” says Roberts.
Just after his accident, another vehicle drove into his Fortuner after this driver also could not see anything due to all the smoke.

The force from this accident spun the Fortuner so that it hit Roberts’ aunt, who was standing on the side of the road. She was also busy fighting the fire.

The force from the blow was so hard that it knocked her out of her shoes.

She landed in the adjacent veld and had to be rushed to hospital with broken ribs. People inside the truck and members of the family that struck the Fortuner were also hospitalised.

Friends and relatives describe Obie, who worked as a draughtsman at a local business, as a wonderful person.

“He was a special person who really made a difference in people’s lives. He was always helping everyone with everything and was one of the most positive people that I have known.”

“He had a huge amount of respect for other people and always put others ahead of himself. He was like a big teddy bear and had a way of saying the funniest things,” says Roberts.

She noted that Obie also loved his three dogs and was always helping with family members’ children.
A friend, Bianca Botha, says Obie would have turned 32 in September.

“He was a very good person whom everyone liked,” she says.

Nico Kahts, the manager of emergency management services at the West Rand District Municipality, says that firefighters had their hands full with 15 veld fires around Merafong over the past weekend.

He said that motorists must drive extremely carefully when they see smoke over the road and, where possible, rather use an alternative route.

The police in Carletonville are also investigating what caused a business in the same area to go up in flames on Saturday morning.

Obie’s memorial service will be held at the Maretlwane Guesthouse in Mooinooi at 11:00 on July 25.