26 Aug 2026

Following the good rains resulting in thick layers of dry grass and vegetation, members of the community have been urged to exercise caution when handling fire, as the situation has the potential to fuel veldt fires.

Principal Forest and Range Resource Officer, Ms Keamogetse Tselakgosi said pastures were in a fair condition throughout Kanye District, therefore alarming caution as it was a peak season for veldt fires.

Speaking in a recent interview with BOPA, Ms Tselakgosi said even though the rangeland condition was generally fair, the winter season has adversely affected the nutritional value of the forage.

Ms Tselakgosi said the dry season boosts potential degradation of the rangeland grasses and trees, therefore urging members of the community to exercise caution when using fire and avoid aggravating the damage by causing veldt fires. 

She said Kanye District has by far recorded three veldt fires outbreaks at Kgwakgwe Hill, Lorolwane Plantations and Ntebogang Junior Secondary School grounds. 

Ms Tselakgosi said the cumulative area affected by veldt fires in the current season (between June and August 2026), in Kanye District measured 78.04 hectares.

Despite putting in place efforts to combat veldt fires, Ms Tselakgosi said efforts to deal with fire outbreaks before enormous damage was done on the environment was at times hampered by shortage of transport, inaccessible terrain due to dense vegetation and rocky hills among other challenges.

“Often, strong winds also contribute to the rapid spread of the fire”, she said and therefore hindering efforts to timely extinguish the fire.

Ms Tselakgosi also added that some members of the community were trained to enhance firefighting capacity with Losabanyana and Lorolwane each having fire teams of 20 members respectively.   

Additionally, Ms Tselakgosi said the department has established a seven-member firefighting teams at Mmathethe, Moshupa, Goodhope and Lobatse.

In addition to developing fire teams, Ms Tselakgosi said her office conducted community educational and awareness campaigns on fire management.  ends