Winde says WC disaster budget nearly depleted on aerial firefighting

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says arson was definitely a factor in the recent wildfires that have devastated large parts of the province.

Thousands of hectares of vegetation have been destroyed across the Cape Winelands, Overberg and Garden Route.

Fire crews continue to battle active fire lines in several municipalities.

Winde said the scale and frequency of the blazes have put pressure of provincial resources, with nearly R20 million of the disaster budget depleted on aerial firefighting.

He said that while dry and windy conditions have played a role, evidence points to fires being started deliberately.

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"You will be fighting a fire in the morning over here and all your resources are there and all of a sudden the fire starts on the other side. Some of them jump brakes or jump the road but others are starting but it's too much of a coincidence."

The provincial government is approaching the national government to have the fires declared a disaster.

Winde's praised firefighters, disaster management teams and volunteers for their ongoing efforts under extremely dangerous conditions.