Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Question by:
Hon Andricus van der Westhuizen
Answered by:
Hon Anton Bredell
Question Number:
6
Question Body:
With regard the veld fire that raged during the last week of February 2021:
- What is the size of the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, (b) how many hectares of the reserve were affected by this fire, (c) where did this fire start, (d) what was deemed to be the cause of this fire, (e) what is the total size of veld that caught fire, (f) what were the costs incurred by each of the various entities that assisted to fight this fire, (g) what will the effect of this fire be on efforts to eradicate alien vegetation in the affected area and (h) what are the estimated costs of the damages caused by this fire?
Answer Body:
- The Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, is 14,522 ha hectares in size.
- 11,665 ha were affected by the fire.
- The fire started on a private farm next to Theewaterskloof Dam.
- The cause of fire has not been confirmed as yet. CapeNature appointed an independent investigator to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary results indicate arson as the suspected cause.
- 14,038 ha of veld was burned in total.
- Preliminary estimates indicate that CapeNature spent about R3,5 million on the fire (costs are associated with contractor teams, aerial resources, CapeNature staff, investigation costs, etc.). Full accounting of the fire costs continues. CapeNature does not have access to the information of other entities and therefore cannot report on the costs incurred by external agencies and private landowners.
- The majority of alien clearing sites in Jonkershoek have burnt out and clearing teams will need to go back into the area to do post-fire clearing and follow up clearing. All sites will have to be cleared during the next 12-18 months. The Annual Plans of Operations for clearing alien vegetation are in the process of being adjusted as a result of the fire.
- There is no immediate estimated cost of damages caused by the fire yet. No buildings or structures were lost in the fire, however, CapeNature suffered damage to infrastructure such as roads, tracks, signs, gates, trails, and assessment of these damages has commenced. Ecological damage may have occurred to the population of the endangered “blushing bride” Serruria florida in Assegaaibosch.
Given the expected rains in winter, we anticipate rockfalls and erosion, which will necessitate further repairs and/or replacement of signs, roads, fences and gates. Species monitoring and post fire monitoring will be implemented and firebreaks may need to be realigned.
Mountains to Ocean (MTO) suffered damages to their plantations, roads, tracks, trails, signs and gates.
Date:
Friday, March 5, 2021
