Maruleng Fire Protection Association NPC

12/04/2026

Meteorologists and climate scientists are warning of the "real potential for the strongest El Niño event in 140 years" developing in 2026. This "Super El Niño" could rival or surpass historic events like those in 1982-83, 1997-98, and 2015-16.

This projected "Super" El Niño is expected to significantly affect South Africa, primarily by ending the current wet cycle and ushering in a period of severe drought and record-high temperatures.

📍Projected Timeline of Impacts
While South Africa has benefited from a weak La Niña through early 2026, climate models show a rapid reversal:

International Research Institute for Climate and Society
International Research Institute for Climate and Society

📍Autumn 2026 (Now – May): Conditions are currently transitioning from a weak La Niña to neutral. Most areas will continue to see normal to above-normal rainfall, which is supporting a healthy 2025-26 maize harvest.

📍Winter 2026 (June – August):
El Niño is likely to emerge officially by August. Early winter forecasts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) already suggest below-normal rainfall for the southwestern and southern coastal areas.

📍Summer 2026/27 (October onwards): This is when the "Super" El Niño's full force is expected, likely bringing prolonged dry spells and extreme heat to the summer rainfall regions.

‼️*Key Areas of Concern‼️*

📍Water Security: Authorities are already warning of possible water supply disruptions. Prolonged drought could lower reservoir levels and increase the risk of "Day Zero" scenarios in water-stressed regions like the Western and Eastern Cape.

📍Agriculture & Food Prices:
While the current crop looks good, the 2026-27 season starting in October could be "tough". Previous strong El Niños have caused nearly 30% contractions in the agricultural sector, leading to sharp food price inflation.

📍Extreme Heat: 2026 and 2027 are predicted to be exceptionally hot. This increases the risk of wildfires, particularly in the Cape, and heightens the threat of heat-related illnesses.

Experts from uMngeni-uThukela Water and the CSIR advise proactive measures now, such as fixing water leaks and preparing for a potentially multi-year dry cycle that could last until 2030.

30/01/2026

23/01/2026

Firebreaks sit at the centre of South Africa’s veld-fire risk framework. -- Interesting article !

Why compliance is judged by outcomes, not intentions

Lester Botha
Published Jan 16, 2026

Firebreaks sit at the centre of South Africa’s veld-fire risk framework. They are not a technical afterthought or an administrative exercise. Under the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (NVFFA), they are a frontline obligation – and one of the clearest indicators of whether a landowner acted reasonably when fire risk materialised.

The Act imposes a direct duty on landowners to prepare and maintain firebreaks where a veld fire may start, burn, or spread from their land. This duty applies irrespective of whether the land is actively farmed, occupied, or vacant. Ownership and control are enough to trigger responsibility.

Critically, the Act does not define compliance in abstract terms. A firebreak must be wide enough, long enough, and reasonably free of inflammable material to have a real chance of preventing fire spread. It must also be appropriate to local conditions – including terrain, vegetation, climate, and weather patterns. In other words, a firebreak is judged by whether it could realistically do its job, not by whether it exists on a plan or boundary map.

THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE

The importance of firebreak compliance becomes most visible once damage occurs.

Section 34 of the NVFFA creates a presumption of negligence where a veld fire causes loss and is shown to have started on, or spread from, a landowner’s property. Unless the landowner is a member of a registered Fire Protection Association, the burden shifts. Negligence is presumed, and the landowner must rebut it.

This is not absolute liability. The presumption can be displaced. But doing so requires evidence that reasonable measures were in place to prevent the fire from spreading. In practice, firebreaks are often the first and most heavily scrutinised of those measures.

WHAT THE COURTS HAVE MADE CLEAR

South African courts have consistently treated firebreak duties as substantive, not symbolic.

In Geo Parkes & Son (Pty) Ltd v Meter NO & others, trustees were held liable after a fire spread from their property, in circumstances where they had failed to maintain firebreaks as required by section 12. The court had little difficulty concluding that the presumption of negligence had not been rebutted. The absence of effective firebreaks was decisive.

Similarly, in Minister of Forestry v Quathlamba (Pty) Ltd, the court confirmed that landowners have a duty to take reasonable steps to control or extinguish fires on their land to prevent foreseeable harm – even where they did not cause the fire to start. Control of the land brings with it a duty to act reasonably once risk is present.

The theme running through these decisions is consistent: compliance is assessed against real-world effectiveness, not formal intention.

WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND LIABILITY

Firebreak compliance is not only a question of fault. In many insurance policies, compliance with statutory duties under the NVFFA is a condition of indemnity for spread-of-fire losses. Where an insured cannot demonstrate that firebreak obligations were met in substance, not just in theory, cover itself may be at risk.

This is why firebreaks are often where liability analysis and coverage analysis converge.

THE PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY

The NVFFA does not reward minimalism. It expects landowners to anticipate risk and prepare for it in a way that reflects the realities of fire behaviour.

Firebreaks must be:

· designed for the land they protect,

· maintained up to the time of risk,

· and capable, in real terms, of interrupting fire spread.

When fires occur, documents help – but they do not decide outcomes on their own. Courts and insurers look for evidence that prevention was meaningful and that risk was managed, not merely acknowledged.

In veld-fire risk, compliance is not about being able to point to the Act. It is about being able to show that, when conditions turned hostile, the measures in place had a reasonable chance of working.

Acknowledging technical contribution from my colleagues Michael Grossett and Jessica D.

15/01/2026

❗❗ ⚠⚠⚠WARNING RED LEVEL 10 FOR DISRUPTIVE RAIN ⚠⚠⚠ ❗❗
THURSDAY 15TH JAN FROM 11:00 TO FRIDAY 16 JAN 23:50

❗❗ Areas: Ba-Phalaborwa, Bushbuckridge, Greater Giyani, GREATER LETABA, GREATER TZANEEN, Maruleng, Mbombela, Barbeton, Nkomazi, Thaba Chweu ❗❗

Heavy rainfall is expected to persist for the next two days over the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumulanga. Leading to further widespread flooding , resulting in danger to life due to fast flowing streams, displacement of communities, widespread damage to settlements or structures.

If possible stay indoors and off the roads, avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams. Move valuables to a safe place above the expected flood level.

Be aware so you can plan to be safe.
warning issued by the South African Weather Service

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08/01/2026

03/01/2026

🔥 Fireground 101: What is LACES? 🔥
Nope — not your boots

LACES is a key wildland firefighting safety system we use every time we’re on the line.
L – Lookouts
Someone watching the fire, weather, and terrain.
A – Awareness / Anchor points
Knowing where the fire is and starting from a safe point.
C – Communications
Clear, constant updates on the line and over radio.
E – Escape Routes
Planned and known ways out if conditions change.
S – Safety Zones
Places where crews can survive if things go wrong.
At Tzaneen EST, LACES is part of every briefing and every operation — because no fire is routine and safety always comes first.

14/11/2025

28/10/2025

26/10/2025

⚠️WEATHER WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES⚠️
ISSUED: 05:09:10 - Sunday 26 October 2025

BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICE (SAWS)

🟥 SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS:

⚠️ IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS:

None at this time.

🔥 FIRE DANGER WARNINGS:

Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected and possible over most parts of North West, Limpopo and Gauteng, north-western parts of Mpumalanga and most parts of eastern Free State.

👁️ WEATHER ADVISORIES:

Extremely hot and uncomfortable conditions are expected and possible in places of the Limpopo Valley and Lowveld of Limpopo.

- afriwx.co.za

24/10/2025

⚠️ Weather Alert – Important Fire Safety Notice ⚠️

Landowners, please take note: over the next few days, weather conditions may increase fire risk. Ensure you have enough resources ready for controlled burns, conduct thorough mop-ups, and do not leave a burn site until mop-up is 100% complete.

❌ Maruleng FPA does not advise any burning over the weekends. Safety first!

Report any uncotrolled fires to

📞Maruleng FPA 064 538 9559
📞Plaaswag +27 72 310 0032

22/10/2025

🔥 NOTICE 🔥

⚠️ Fire Prohibition LIFTED ⚠️

✅Maruleng FPA Committee agreed to the lifting of the fire ban for the remainder of the fire season.

Controlled burning may commence on strict conditions as normal by reporting to +27 64 538 9559 with the relevant information⬇️

📋Reporting information.

❓Who is burning (Landowner)
❓What is burning (Type of fuel)
❓How much is burning (estimated hectares)
❓Where is it burning (address/route number and a pin location.
❓Resources on/at scene (bakkie sakkies/beaters/Personnel)

🔰This is very important for recording purposes.

❗️Once information is received, you may proceed with your burning. The permit manager will send you a permit number personally for your records.

♻️Please distribute this message on all platforms if necessary.

🤝Thanks for the cooperation during the past few months.

Maruleng FPA Management