Emotions smoulder over Witfontein

Afire started in the state-owned Witfontein pine plantation by homeless people who have set up camp there, sparked renewed worries about the fire hazard on the northern borders of George. Thick smoke was seen coming from the plantation on Sunday 5 August a short distance from the nearest homes.

An alarmed Andries Troskie, owner of the Hawthorndene Hotel, said, "The forest is as dry as tinder. The people who live in the forest have cooking fires going and with a hot wind fuelling a stray ember, this could potentially fuel a catastrophic fire".

During an inspection a fortnight ago, Troskie found evidence of a huge squatter home structure with objects strewn around.

He spoke to a homeless man, who introduced himself as Lucas Claassen, who confirmed he does cook over an open fire and that he had recently been released from jail.

MTO no longer involved

It is of great concern that MTO Cape Pine is no longer contracted to manage the pine plantation. This was confirmed by MTO's Geoff Taylor, who said the contract expired in December 2017. It seems they are not going to be re-appointed.

The George Fire Brigade doused the 5 August fire.

Bigger firebreak

During inspection of the fire damages at Witfontein forest on Friday 24 August, Thami Gugushe, acting regional head of Forestry Western Cape, and Themba Dlamini, acting director of Forestry Management (other regions), said the firebreak between Heatherlands and Witfontein will be made wider to mitigate the existing fire hazard.

This was reiterated by Paul Gerber,

Western Cape fire advisor of the Department of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries (Daff). An estimation for the harvesting of the Witfontein forest is taking place currently. Work on the firebreak is expected to begin in the near future and local people will be employed to carry out the labour.

Gugushe said that a forester will be employed to determine the volumes first, after which specifications will be drawn up so that the timber harvesting can be put on tender.

Indecisive

Most of the plantation succumbed to a wildfire in 2002. In 2006 Safcol handed Witfontein back to Daff, who saw it as a major liability, and George Municipality declined to take over ownership in accordance with an LHA management consultant report.

In 2014 Daff put outa tender for clear felling of the neglected 550ha plantation and disposal of the timber, but this did not materialise.

Troskie said if the responsibility for removal of the squatters continues to be kicked around between Daff and the George police, he would have to halt the upgrade of the hotel, as his investment is being compromised by the fire hazard and security issues posed by Witfontein.

Photos: Pauline Lourens Hawthorndene Hotel owner Andries Troskie (left) surveys the squatter camp and debris in the foreground in the Witfontein plantation which is of huge concern to property owners in Heatherlands.

Daff’s Themba Dlamini surveys the dry veld growing right up to the Papillion townhouse complex situated adjacent to the Hawthorndene Hotel were an upgrade is underway. He said that residents at the townhouse complex should create a fire break around their own premises and desist from throwing garden refuse over the exterior walls, as this adds to the fire hazard that exists on the northern borders of George.