By Nushera Soodyal.
Kwazulu-Nata (KZN) Disaster Management has confirmed that five more people have been killed in wildfires that ravaged parts of the province this week.
It brings the death toll to 12.
The King Cetshwayo, Ilembe, uThukela, Nkandla, Umlalazi and Zululand Districts have been severely affected.
The wildfires have also damaged crops and livestock, with farmers losing 1,600 animals and 14,000 hectares of grazing land.
It’s after the SA Weather Service issued warnings for high fire danger conditions and extreme winds on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, said he has assigned disaster management teams to provide support to the affected families.
“We are saddened by the further loss of life that our province has experienced due to the raging fires. We express our condolences, and as the provincial government under the leadership of Premier Thami Ntuli, all departments are playing an active role in providing relief to the communities affected by these fires,” he said.
Buthelezi said on Sunday, he will visit disaster-hit communities to provide interim relief to the farmers affected by the fire.