Six die in raging veld fires

SIX people were killed in several devastating fires which swept across parts of the Eastern Cape, causing damage estimated to run into the millions of rands.

The fires, which broke out in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, have left hundreds of families homeless, destroyed more than 15000 hectares of land between Matatiele and KwaZulu-Natal and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of livestock.

On Friday a family of four were burnt beyond recognition after a fire gutted their Matatiele home, and two men died on Sunday in a veld fire which swept through Matatiele and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

More than 1000 sheep and 200 cattle were killed, and many will have to be euthanased due to burns.

A municipal spokesman in Mount Ayliff said officials were still counting the number of people affected. – Loyiso Mpalantshane