A fire that destroyed over 300 hectares of farmland on Tuesday has caused tension between farmers and police.

Angry farmers spent most of yesterday battling the blaze which, fuelled by high winds, swept through four farms. They have blamed Elandslaagte police for starting the blaze.

Exhausted farmers from throughout the area battled the blaze as it swept across several farm boundaries. They managed to halt the fire on the N11, which formed a natural firebreak.

It was, however, when farmers began tracing the source of the fire that they came to the shocking conclusion that the fire’s origin was at the Elandslaagte police station.

“It is obvious from the photo that the fire started at the police station,” said a farmer who asked not to be named.

Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.