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Cape Wildfires Ease in Parts of Overstrand and Kouga, Hotspots Persist at Stanford and Wemmershoek

Provincial tallies exceed 100,000 hectares burned, underscoring why SAWS red warnings keep crews on high alert.

Overview

  • Overstrand reports the Pearly Beach fire contained with no threat to homes and all major roads reopened, though Stanford remains active with crews guarding against flare‑ups in strong winds.
  • Firefighters in the Boland are still battling the Wemmershoek/Franschhoek blaze on mountain slopes, with night operations continuing and structure protection supported by Stellenbosch.
  • Kouga officials say fires have largely subsided and earlier evacuees returned home, as authorities monitor electricity and water impacts and warn against deliberate ignitions such as cable burning.
  • SAWS maintains red veldfire warnings for parts of the Eastern Cape, with hot, dry and windy conditions driving ongoing aerial water‑bombing that includes SAAF Oryx support and additional helicopters.
  • Mossel Bay shifts to mop‑up and relief after roughly 23 square kilometres burned and at least 11 homes were destroyed, with a municipal fund, volunteers and animal rescue teams assisting residents.