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- A Free State farmer was badly burned while helping to put out a fire in a veld.
- Protesters reportedly started the fire out of control.
- Hundreds of game and cattle have been lost in the fire.
A farmer is fighting for his life after being caught in a wildfire in the Free State that reportedly started during a protest over the provision of services on Monday.
Netwerk24 and eNCA reported that the farmer was trying to help extinguish the flames.
The fire has destroyed around 100,000ha of farmland around Hoopstad, Christina and Hertzogville in the Free State, News24 previously reported.
According to Netwerk24, 28-year-old Tewie Nel is in critical condition after suffering second and third degree burns. Nel was one of many farmers who tried to stop the flames after protesters started a fire by setting tires, as well as a field, on the outskirts of the city.
He was reportedly being treated at the Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein.
Tewie’s father Gerhard, who is also a farmer and previously worked as an orthopedic surgeon at the same hospital, told Netwerk24 that his son had suffered third degree burns on more than 40% of his body.
Tewie Nel, 28, a Hertzogville farmer, was badly burned in the Free State veld fire.
“Both his hands, his arms, both legs, his back, his side and his stomach were burned and he suffered second-degree burns to his face,” according to reports.
The worst fire in years
Hundreds of game and cattle have been lost in the fire, according to an estimate by the Free State Agricultural Organization.
The fire was one of the worst seen in recent years, said the organization’s operations manager, Jack Armor.
“In some situations, cattle ran up to seven farms to escape the fire,” Armor added. “Although there was no loss of life, we are aware of the farmers who have suffered serious burns and we wish them a speedy recovery.”
SEE | Uncontrolled fires destroy 100,000ha of agricultural land in the Free State
The fire was reportedly started during a protest over the provision of services on Monday.
According to a statement from FF Plus, protesting Tokologo residents set fire to a water tank, causing a wildfire.
“Commercial and emerging farmers in the area already suffered severe losses before the fires due to the long drought and the current poor economic climate. These farmers will not be able to recover from the millions of rand of damage caused by the fires to their own. without government help, “said FF Plus provincial leader Jan van Niekerk.
Farmers try to put out a devastating veld fire in the Free State on Tuesday.
Police spokesman Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the JoJo tanks were damaged and 17 people appeared in Hertzogville Magistrates Court Tuesday on charges of public violence and intentional damage to property.
Eleven people were detained on Sunday and the rest were detained on Monday.
“They were all granted bail of 1,000 rand each … Seven of them could not afford it and had to remain in custody pending their next court appearance on November 5,” Makhele said.
– Compiled by Riaan Grobler
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