15 Oct 2013

Crop Production Field Centre in Mahalapye was destroyed by fire on October 12. The fire, which gutted the centre, was started by two grounds men who were burning a heap of grass in an effort to clean the surroundings of the centre.

One of the grounds men, Mr Tebatso Tseme said they were cleaning the area when the unfortunate happened. Mr Tseme said their efforts to extinguish fire using a hosepipe failed resulting in some nearby yards and adjacent farms affected.

The principal technical officer, Ms Cordelia Moloko said about seven hectares of the demonstrator farm were affected. Besides the fodder field, Ms Moloko said an asbestos structure, some gum poles and government apiary with seven boxes of bees were also consumed by fire.

She stated that the damage was a draw back as they used the field to educate their clients on fodder making and bee keeping. One of the villagers whose single roomed house was razed down by fire said his furniture, utensils, food and cash amounting to P3 000 perished in the inferno.

Mr Boiki Moatswi, who was alerted about the fire by one of his friends, said the house was unoccupied. Mr Moatswi said he dismissed the call at the first only for him to find his house ablaze when he finally rushed home. “I am shocked and misplaced because the fire has caused a significant damage to my life,” he said. Ends