DAFF officials are still assessing the damage in the Harrismith area where 50 000ha was destroyed by a veld fire, said Palesa Mokomele, spokesperson for the minister of agriculture.
A decision will be made about declaring Harrismith a disaster area after the completion of a report on the damage in the district, she said.
Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association General Manager Thinus Steenkamp said the damage in the Free State would have been much worse were it not for the members of the association and the respective Fire Protection Associations on grass roots level.
