Survivor of KZN Midlands veld fire describes horrifying scenes

Ntombikhona Nxele, 39, Nonsikelelo Zuma, 38, Khethiwe Ngcobo,42, Ntombifuthi Ngcobo, 38, Vusi Radula, 41 and Mabongi Sishane, 41, were killed while fighting a veld fire on a farm that borders Mafakatini and Mpophomeni in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Sunday.

The six workers were employed by Farmusa Contracting and hired by Sappi, who have a plantation adjacent to the farm, to help fight the run away fire.

The six, five women and one man, were part of a 16-member team. One worker is still in a critical condition in hospital.

On Wednesday, a government delegation led by Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, Cogta MEC MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas and Msunduzi deputy mayor Mxolisi Mkhize visited the families of the deceased workers.

Amanda Sishane, whose sister Mabongi died in the blaze, said her sister had fought fires for 12 years.

She said her sister had three children aged 21, 13 and five and was the sole breadwinner in their home.

“Whenever we needed anything, we would cry out to her and she would assist. From the moment I started school, she provided for me. It is going to be very very hard for us, we do not know what we will do from now on. We are very hurt,” she said.

Cogta said that Farmusa has provided R3 500 per family, while the uMgungundlovu District Municipality provided R1 000 to each family and Sassa will issue two R2 080 covers per family to assist during this difficult time.

One of the survivors of the 16-member team, who asked not to be named, said when they arrived at the scene of the fire it was intense.

“Our chief (manager) said we should do ‘back burning’ ... we tried, but the flames were coming towards our trucks at high speed and then it was suggested that we move and do the back burning somewhere else.”

The survivor, who also sustained burns, said they did the back burning but failed to monitor the wind direction.

“The fire came towards us and not to the initial fire and that is how we were trapped.”

According to the survivor, they had to carry 20 litres on their backs and those who died were unable to get away because of the weight and the smoke.

“They tried running but they could not. I heard screams and when I looked back, the flames were attacking these women. I was also running away but we were slowed down by the weight of our equipment.”

The survivor said their training kicked in and they moved to an area that the fire had already moved through.

“When we returned those who had not managed to escape were screaming in pain.”

Farmusa spokesperson Alson Ngesi said they would assist all the affected families with whatever they needed.

The Mercury