Open fires prohibited in Ndlambe area
Open fires, along with veldburning, are prohibited in the Ndlambe municipal area (which includes the Sunshine Coast and Bathurst) from December 1 to March 31, except under certain conditions.
The Sarah Baartman District Municipality, in conjunction with the Eastern Cape Disaster Management Centre, a directorate within the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), have issued a fire prohibition notice, with different dates for the various municipal areas.
The district municipality and disaster management have advised that due to the veld fire season and prevailing drought conditions, no burning or open fires are permitted as follows:
Ndlambe municipal area, from December 1 to March 31 next year;
Makana area, from July 1 this year until October 31 next year;
Kouga and Koukamma, from November 1 to February;
Sundays River Valley, from November 1 to January 31;
Dr Beyers Naude, from August 1 to March 31; and
Blue Crane Route, from August 1 to April 30.
According to the notice, burning will be allowed under the following strict conditions:
The chief fire officers of the local municipalities must approve all burning operations according to their respective burning permit systems;
In the absence of a chief fire officer, the fire protection officer of the local Fire Protection Association must approve all burning operations according to their respective burning permit system and community safety bylaws;
Landowners must apply a minimum of seven days before burning for pre-approval;
Final approval for burning must be obtained on the day of the proposed burn;
All bordering landowners must be informed of burning operations in terms of the national Veld and Forest Fire Act (101 of 1998);
The Act places a duty on all landowners to have all precautions in place to prevent a fire from spreading or causing damage.
Members of the public are urged to be extremely vigilant during the hot summer season and to report any fires to the respective local municipalities:
Ndlambe Municipality (Alexandria, Bathurst, Boknes, Bushmans River, Cannon Rocks, Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred): Contact 046- 624-1111.
Makana Municipality (Alicedale, Makhanda, Riebeeck East): Contact 046-622-4444/080-11-4444.
Kouga Municipality (Hankey, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Oyster Bay, Patensie, St Francis Bay): Contact 042-291-0250.
Koukamma (Joubertina, Kareedouw, Louterwater, Storms River, Coldstream, Clarkson, Misgund, Krakeel): Contact 071869-3235.
Sundays River Valley Municipality (Addo, Kirkwood, Paterson): Contact 042-230-0942.
Blue Crane Route Municipality (Cookhouse, Pearston, Somerset East): Contact 042-243-3281.
Dr Beyers Naude Municipality (Aberdeen, Graaff-Reinet, Nieu Bethesda, Jansenville, Klipplaat, Steytlerville, Willowmore): Contact 084 -25601536
Or the Sarah Baartman District Municipal Disaster Management Centre at 041-508-7048
Or toll free 080-022-2238, the Fire Protection Associations, alternatively the ambulance services at 10177, SA Police Services at 10111 or the Public Emergency Centre at 112.