It’s only a matter of time before officials catch a suspected arsonist they believe to be behind the spate of fires that has destroyed farms and municipal land in and around Grahamstown during the past couple of weeks.
It’s only a matter of time before officials catch a suspected arsonist they believe to be behind the spate of fires that has destroyed farms and municipal land in and around Grahamstown during the past couple of weeks.
Makana Municipality's Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Kevin Bates on Friday 18 October confirmed rumours that 10 fires in the past month wreaking destruction and endangering lives were deliberately started.
"We are a hundred percent sure that there is a person starting out these fires and it's just a matter of time before we catch him," Bates told Grocott’s Mail on Friday 18 October.
Six fires last weekend destroyed 2 000ha of farm and municipal land. Continued burning this week continued to ruin large areas of grazing for domestic stock and game.
A month ago, on Thursday 12 September, three fires raged across land adjacent to the N2 highway in the Howieson’s Poort area, bringing traffic to a near standstill.
That weekend, on Sunday 15 September, a fourth fire broke out and forced families and animals to flee their homes at Somerset Heights.
This brings to 10 the total of fires in the Grahamstown area within the space of a month.
Bates said officials had identified a prime suspect whom they had confronted.
"Whenever a fire broke out and we would rush to the scene, the man would always be there lurking,” Bates said. “But that is not good enough to take him down. We require solid evidence. We need to catch him starting the fire."
Rumours of an arsonist on the loose started doing rounds earlier this week, with speculation rife as to their identity and motive.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said anyone with information or suspicions about arson attacks should speak to the police.
