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Stock farmers in the Mahlungulu and Zilandana villages in Qumbu, ward 17 of Mhlontlo Local Municipality, are reeling from the devastating loss of about 184 sheep due to recent wildfires. The surviving sheep, rescued by shepherds, are in poor condition. The fires, driven by robust winds accompanying a cold front moving across the country, started along the road at Mahlungulu village near the forest and quickly spread to Zilandana village, affecting the entire area.
A young man who witnessed the raging fire described the ordeal as he traveled along the road. He saw people rushing to extinguish the flames but doubted their success due to the strong, violent gusts of wind. By then, the fire had already spread to parts of the grazing land.
Farmers in the affected areas have suffered significant losses and are pleading for government assistance to provide feed for the surviving livestock, as all the grazing land has been damaged by the fire.
The Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has dispatched a team to assess the damage caused by the veld fires that destroyed large pasture lands in the vicinity.
