WHITE RIVER – A pilot had to be rushed to hospital after he crashed a Fire Fighting Association (FFA) Cessna spotter aircraft while attempting an emergency landing yesterday. He was assisting to control fires started by approximately 1 000 violent protesters in the area.
The protest action and arson, which started early Monday morning, ensued on the Mbonetsweni Road, between KaBokweni and Plaston.
According to Mr Pieter Kruger, security manager of Bedrock, he received a call at 02:00 alerting him of an uncontrolled fire in the nearby plantations.
He immediately phoned for back-up and was accompanied by Hi-Tech Security White River shortly thereafter. They were in turn followed by foresters with “bakkie sakkies”.
According to Kruger, the protest was so violent, that shots were fired.
These residents were up in arms about the ongoing water situation and illustrated their discontent by setting the veld alight and blocking the road. Their dissatisfaction over the fact that they were not provided with water, was at the heart of the protest. The Mbombela Municipality has seemingly failed to address this issue for the past few months.
Mayor of Mbombela, Mr Sibusiso Matonsi, disagreed and said they had spoken to the protesters and they then stopped their violent behaviour. According to Matonsi they were currently busy with a project to provide the residents with water from Karino.
“We will also be clearing the roads this week,” he said
The protesting residents blockaded the road between White River and Plaston with street signs, burning branches and rocks, which made it impossible for motorists, who were also threatened, to pass.
Two helicopters, a fire bomber and two Working on Fire (WoF) spotter planes had to be called to the scene and worked tirelessly throughout the day to try to extinguish the raging inferno. The cause of the emergency landing performed by Mr Mike Assad, which left the aircraft on its roof, has not yet been confirmed. WoF contested rumours at the scene that the aircraft had run out of fuel and also confirmed that an investigation would follow to determine the cause of the accident.
Mr Evelyn Holtzhausen, CEO of Hwb Communications, confirmed that a forced landing had indeed been necessary. Assad sustained minor injuries and was treated for abrasions at Mediclinic Nelspruit. According to spokesman Ms Robyn Baard, he was admitted in a stable condition.
“A full report of the incident will be made to the South African Civil Aviation Authority for investigation,” said Holtzhausen.
According to Kruger, they battled to get hold of the SAPS, which arrived on the scene late on Monday morning, when the damage had already been done and hundreds of hectares of grazing and plantations had burnt to the ground.
According to operational manager of SAFIND Forestry Products, Mr Cobus du Preez, more than 200 hectares of plantation were destroyed on their farm. “What makes this incident so unfair, is the fact that we suffered this much damage, without having any connection with the reasons for the protest,” he said.
Hi-Tech White River general manager Mr Pieter van Zyl expressed grave concern over the safety of nearby residents as well as the protesters.
At the time of going to press the situation was calm and no protesters were in sight but the firefighting organisations were still battling the flames.
