Overberg fires under control

Writer De Waal Steyn

“While the devastating fire that raged near Greyton, McGregor and as far afield as Riviersonderend has been bought under control, a special investigative team will now set to work to bring those responsible to book,” said Overberg Fire Chief, Reinhard Geldenhuys.

According to witnesses at least two children were seen starting the fire on Wednesday, 18 December in the nature reserve alongside Greyton. The fire quickly spread, engulfing more than 18 000 ha of fynbos and farmland, as well as destroying at least five structures.

Geldenhuys said they aim to send a strong message to members of the public who start fires, no matter what age they are. “The days where something like this can be excused as children being naughty are long gone. The preliminary cost for just the firefighting is estimated to be more than R15 million. If one adds the cost of the vineyards and other farmland that were lost, as well as that of the structures, it will come to an astronomical figure, and someone needs to be held accountable for this.”

He added that he did not want to make any predictions before the investigation was completed, but should it be true that children were responsible for the fire they will be charged. “We've appointed Enviro Wildfire to investigate this and hopefully it will result in criminal proceedings. Because they are minors, we cannot charge them with arson under criminal law, but we can charge them with malicious ignition.

"There are three issues here: The damage to infrastructure, the cost, and the fact that it is unacceptable behaviour. These children started the fire for no reason. We use the phrase 'malicious ignition' because it's not arson, which is a technical thing on its own. Two children went into the nature reserve, set the fire and left. We're going to bring them to book."

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