Overstrand Municipality has offered a substantial reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person or people responsible for starting the fire that raged between Stanford and Gansbaai.
This comes after a preliminary investigation report into the fire was released, stating that evidence suggests the fire had been started deliberately.
The fire broke out on 28 December approximately 300 m to the east of the R43 between Stanford and Gansbaai and destroyed more than 1 100 ha.
A statement by the municipality revealed that the investigation, using fire pattern indicators, identified 10 consecutive ignition points in a linear pattern perpendicular to the then prevailing easterly wind, over approximately 140 m.
“Other potential causes (Eskom, natural, accidental, negligence, and such),” said the statement, “had been eliminated.”
It went on to state that there was also no evidence of woodcutting or vagrants in the area.
The report stated that based on the circumstances surrounding the Bella Vista fire, it is probable that the person responsible will start additional fires and has most probably been doing so for a while.
“With the tall concealing fuel loads and prevailing summer weather conditions in the Stanford area,” reads the preliminary report, “it is going to be extremely difficult, if not close to impossible, to catch the person in the act.”
Overstrand Executive Mayor Dr Annelie Rabie, on reviewing the content of the investigation report, indicated she was extremely perplexed by the fact that, should this be arson, there are people in the community who would deliberately put the lives of not only the residents, but the firefighters in danger.
She said: “Fortunately no lives were lost but the damage to the environment and the costs of containing and eventually extinguishing the fire, were immense.”
Overstrand Municipality is offering a R15 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for starting the fire at Bella Vista. The investigation continues.
Mayor Rabie expressed her expectation that the offer of the reward would lead to the arrest of the person/s responsible as was the case in the 2019 Betty’s Bay fires.
Should you have any information in this regard, contact the Fire Services 24-hour emergency control room at 028 312 2400 or send an email to enquiries@overstrand.gov.za
