Staff Reporter
At least 10 000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed by wildfires that have ravaged the Free State farming towns of Boshoff, Bultfontein, Christiana, Dealesville, Hertzogville and Hoopstad over the past four days.
Local farmer Tewie Nel was severely injured after he was trapped in the raging fires which started on Sunday and have been spreading rapidly due to the windy and dry weather conditions in the area.
Unconfirmed reports however allege the fires were started on Monday during a service delivery protest over water.
Several buildings have been razed to the ground and scores of livestock and wildlife have been killed by the fires.
Grazing land and vehicles have also been destroyed.
Authorities are said to be assessing the extent of the damage amid calls to declare the affected towns disaster areas.
