Lighting fires outdoors is prohibited during periods of high fire hazard, the department said in a statement. Livestock should be moved from fenced grazing to unfenced land or ploughed fields for safety.
Meanwhile Christina Thaele, forecaster at the South African Weather Services told Farmer’s Weekly there was a possibility of veld fires in the eastern parts of the Northern Cape, and south-western parts of the Free State on Saturday. Rain was however expected on Sunday, and could bring relief.
About 320 000ha of land has already burnt across the Free State this year. The affected districts include Xhariep; Thabo Mofutsanyana; Lejweleputswa; Fezile Dabi and Motheo, the DRDLR said.