The landline that is not working, is affecting all the regions in Bloemfontein, says Andries Moalosi, coordinator of the Mangaung Disaster Management Centre in Bloemfontein, who urges residents to familiarise themselves with the new numbers to report, for instance, fires.

The issue arises as wildfires caused damage at the town of Harrismith in the Free State last week Wednesday, where 700 hectors of vegetation were destroyed.

Moalosi says the fires affect the community and municipality at large with clothing, accommodation and food that must be provided with municipal funds after the disaster. Meanwhile, the municipality being cash-strapped will cause strain on the Disaster Management centre.

He says smokers throwing cigarette butts in the veld, shepherds making small fires and do not put it out completely, as well as land polluters, are causes of wildfires as the climate conditions currently are windy and dry.

Moalosi pleads with residents to immediately phone the Disaster Management centre in case of a fire, regardless of how small the fire may seem to be, to avoid it getting out of control, resulting in difficulties to extinguish it.

In case of fire, traffic and other emergencies residents should call 051-6099-600 or 051-409-9600 or the Vodacom network’s 107.

OFM News/Marvin Ntsane