500ha of grazing land in LTT destroyed by fire
Livestock farmers near Tshiozwi are appealing for urgent assistance after 500 hectares of grazing land were destroyed by a runaway veld fire.
LIMPOPO – Livestock farmers near Tshiozwi and Madombidzha outside Louis Trichardt have urged authorities to assist them after hundreds of hectares of grazing land were destroyed by runaway veld fires on August 21.
The farmers said they watched helplessly as 500 hectares of grazing land across seven farms were destroyed by the fire, leaving them facing significant losses.
One of the affected farmers, Madambi Muvhulawa, said the situation was devastating as most of his grazing land had been completely destroyed. He said he moved his livestock to another plot far from the area affected by the fire to protect them from being caught in the flames.
“I am waiting for the assessor, but I will need more than R600 000 to buy lucerne for my livestock and repair the fences that were destroyed,” said Muvhulawa.
Fire spread too quickly
He said another white farmer alerted him to the veld fire after noticing that it was spreading rapidly. Muvhulawa said Vhembe district officials also came to the area to try to extinguish the fire, but struggled because it was spreading too quickly.
Muvhulawa said the damage could take years to repair, adding that farmers were struggling to find alternative grazing land and feed for their livestock.
“This fire has hit us hard. We are in the dry season and cannot afford animal feed,” he said.
Appeal for assistance
The farmers are appealing for urgent assistance with fodder and repairs to damaged infrastructure, particularly fencing.
They fear that without assistance, it will become increasingly difficult to sustain their livestock and support the families who depend on the farms.
Muvhulawa said another major challenge was feeding his cattle now that much of the grazing land had been destroyed.
Cause under investigation
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, although there are suspicions that it may have started near the graveyard at Tshiozwi village.
Tshilwavhusiku and Makhado police have opened an inquiry, and Vhembe SAPS spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi said police were investigating the cause.
