190 Komsberg homes razed

190 Komsberg homes razed Reed huts burned like wildfire The workers at Komsberg grape farms in Namibia's south have suffered a major setback days before Christmas when 190 homes were burned, and more destroyed in a bid to halt the fire. Komsberg grape farm workers were hit by disaster once more when around 190 reed houses burnt to the ground during a raging fire on Tuesday.

Around 260 workers lost personal belongings in the fire that reportedly started in one of the huts alongside the Orange River and quickly spread to reed structures nearby.

No injuries were reported.

Police officers helped extinguish the fire on the farm some 70 km west of the Ariamsvlei Border Post.

Workers, on their way back from their lunch break, noticed the fire in one hut and alerted management.

Komsberg human resources manager, Hilda Shithigona described the inferno as a disaster, saying the blaze almost destroyed the entire commune.

“It was very hot and in some of the huts, gas cylinders exploded and that fuelled the fire.”

She said workers and other rescuers later destroyed unaffected huts to stop the fire from spreading.

“It was very dangerous and the fire moved very fast. We used fire extinguishers and water but that was not enough, so we destroyed the remaining houses.”

Health assistant on the farm, Leonard Hatzkin told Nampa the nearest water tank ran dry quickly but the fire was doused around 17:00.

“We were all very shocked, but tried our best to help each other rescue the belongings of the workers in some of the burning huts and others alongside the river,” he said.

Karasburg East Constituency Councillor, Dennis Coetzee, Wednesday arrived on the scene with tents and food for the affected. He vented his frustration over the living arrangements of workers on the farm.

Several fires occurred at the farm over the years and in January this year, a flood destroyed dozens of huts. A three-year-old boy drowned and his body is still missing.

Coetzee said it was unacceptable for workers to live in reed structures without proper hygiene and sanitary facilities in an independent Namibia.

This is a historic situation that seemingly can never be resolved, he said.

“Government authorities convened with Komsberg management countless times over housing at the farm, but yet again, the workers find themselves in another perilous situation.”

Shithigona said the company provided food vouchers worth N$200 to those affected and will give a further N$1 500 to replace lost items.

Attempts to reach Komsberg general manager, Jannie Thiaart failed as his mobile phone went unanswered on Wednesday.

NAMPA