Note to editors: Please find attached the English soundbite by Cllr Alison Oates, Afrikaans by Cllr Eleanor Quinta and Sesotho by Cllr Moshe Lefuma.
The South African Police Service in Van Reenen is reportedly unable to investigate arson cases due to a broken scanner, preventing cases from being uploaded onto the system. Until these cases are uploaded, no progress can be made.
On Friday, 12 July, farmers were battling to control a fire near Van Reenen when they witnessed an arsonist lighting fires in the area they were attending. Locals also believed they could identify the arsonist. These fires, set amidst howling winds, presented a significant danger to buildings and destroyed a large amount of grazing land. The disaster was only averted due to the firefighting efforts of many local farmers. The extreme weather conditions have hindered farmers from completing firebreaks, exacerbating the spread of fires once ignited.
A case was lodged with the SAPS on Monday in Van Reenen, but due to the broken scanner, no action could be taken. As of yet, the witness has not been questioned, and the suspected individual remains at large.
In another incident, on the night of Thursday, 18 July, three fires were reportedly set in the same area from Van Reenen towards Swinburne. Thousands of hectares of valuable winter grazing, which will not regrow until October, were lost.
This arson was reported to the Harrismith SAPS at 07:00 on Friday morning. The fear that these three sequential fires might be linked to the same arsonist was not acknowledged by the police. Hours later, no case number has been issued, and the complainant has not been contacted by investigators.
The DA will raise this issue at the provincial level. The lackadaisical approach of the police is very concerning. We demand immediate action from SAPS to repair the scanner and ensure that cases can be properly logged and investigated. Failure to act not only undermines the safety and livelihoods of the community but also erodes trust in law enforcement.