This is according to the Agriculture MEC, William Bulwane. 

Addressing Members of the Provincial Legislature on Friday, Bulwane has stressed the need for the province to join hands in lending assistance to farmers whose land, properties, and livestock were destroyed when runaway fires broke out at the beginning of the week in the Hertzogville and Hoopstad areas. 

Working on Fire has confirmed that the veld fires, which extended to the Northern Cape, damaged more than 100 000 hectares in the Free State. 

Bulwane says the fires left many farmers in a desperate situation, which also threatens food security in the province. He says one farmer has badly been injured and is fighting for his life in the ICU in Bloemfontein.

He confirms that the extent of the damage is yet to be determined.

“Let us not politicise matters that do not need politics in it and join hands to help those farmers. We must work together. The damage is so huge, we can’t quantify it now. We do not know how many hectares have been burned [and] how many livestock have been affected. We need to join hands,” said Bulwane.

It is reported that another farmer in Hertzogville lost approximately R900 000 in livestock and incurred about R3 million in damages to property on his farm.

OFM News has reported that it's alleged the fire broke out during protests by local residents of the township over water issues. It has further been alleged the fire started on the R708 and the flames spread quickly in the veld, which led to multiple fires that then raged in the direction of Dealesville, Bultfontein, and Hoopstad.

Working on Fire’s spokesperson, Wayne Mokhethi, on Tuesday told OFM News the recent heatwave and strong winds coupled with the Fire Danger Index being red, have fuelled the situation.

OFM News