MACHADODORP – Various veld fires broke out across Mpumalanga on Friday due to extremely strong winds that blew as a cold front made its way through the area.
The Highveld was hit the hardest, and one fire resulted in the death of a man who was travelling to Carolina with his family when they were engulfed by flames.
According to Brig Selvy Mohlala, provincial police spokesman, the family was travelling from Machadodorp to Carolina in their KIA Picanto when they came across heavy smoke, about 10 kilometres from Carolina. “The smoke filled the entire vehicle and the man, who had been driving, couldn’t see anything,” Mohlala said.
He brought the vehicle to a standstill and it was engulfed by flames. “The man’s wife and their three-year-old son managed to exit the vehicle, but sustained burns in the process,” Mohlala said.
The husband couldn’t escape and burnt to death. Both the wife and son were admitted to Carolina and Waterval Boven Hospitals respectively and are in a stable condition.
