The devastating fire has been raging in the Gansbaai area for a week now, destroying more than 1700 hectares.
In the latest updates Overstrand Traffic is in the process of closing the R43 Gansbaai road from the Uilenkraalsmond crossing to the De Uijlenes gravel road as a precaution, as the wind is blowing the fire in that direction.”The alternative route is via the Pearly Beach gravel road to Baardskeerdersbos and then along the Grootbos gravel road,” said the municipal manager Dean O’Neill.
According to O’ Neill multiple flare-ups have occurred, and crews are attending to active fire lines. “A new fire has been reported along the R43 near Duineveld Pub just outside of Gansbaai town. The fire is actively burning, and crews are currently attending to it.”
The OM also send out an urgent message to request all farm owners from Strand Kloof to Blue Horizon (Gansbaai area) to immediately evacuate their farms.
CapeNature is calling on the public to stay alert and proactive as the wildfire season nears, reminding all that the cost of runaway fires is far greater than many realise.Each year, wildfires threaten lives, destroy homes and infrastructure, and cause lasting damage to the Western Cape’s biodiversity. From displaced families and lost livelihoods to injured wildlife and devastated habitats, the impact is felt across communities, ecosystems, and the economy.During the 2024-’25 fire season, CapeNature’s cost for fire suppression alone exceeded R20 million. Damage to the organisation’s infrastructure was also severe, while private landowners also sustained damage. Legal claims for damages to forests and infrastructure exceeded R300 million.
