Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, tells OFM News heavy rainfall is predicted for much of the province from Wednesday onwards – this includes in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, and Dewetsdorp. These conditions will come on the back of severe thunderstorms with a possibility of hail, strong winds and flooding predicted for the southwestern and northeastern parts of the Free State over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

This isn’t the first warning for heavy rainfall that been predicted in recent weeks. At the end of October, the province experienced some much-needed rainfall on the heels of some devastating veld fires that ravaged the Hertzogville and Hoopstad area, burning 100 000 hectares of land. 

The General Manager of the Free State Umbrella Body for Fire Protection Associations, Johann Breytenbach, reported similar veld fires in the Northern Cape at the time.

The Hertzogville fire is believed to have broken out during protests by local residents of the township over water issues, beginning on the R708 with the flames spreading quickly in the direction of Dealesville, Bultfontein, and Hoopstad due to the hot and windy conditions experienced then. It is reported that one farmer in Hertzogville lost approximately R900 000 in livestock and incurred R3 million in damages to property on his farm.

OFM News