Battling fierce winds and unpredictable flare-ups, firefighting crews have been working tirelessly to gain a foothold against a wave of devastating blazes tearing through the Eastern and Western Cape. 

Eastern Cape 

Since the fires broke out on Tuesday, emergency teams in the Eastern and Western Cape have been battling multiple intense blazes that have forced evacuations across the Kouga municipality. Caxton Network News reported last night that while aerial support continued to assist ground crews, strong winds remained a challenge, causing widespread electricity disruptions and heavy smoke warnings for residents in the Mossel Bay area. 

The Kouga Municipality says a helicopter is providing much-needed aerial support to the fire in the greater Kromme River area.  

Fire extinguishing operations still ongoing in #Kouga. The fire has simmered down over the ridge on Oyster Bay Road on the Kromme River, but we remain vigilant and on edge – its forecast to another hot day with no rain in sight. #GardenRouteFires #StFrancisBay #KougaFire pic.twitter.com/ogED1eKE0m

— Sebastian The Crab 🦀 (@SebKrummer) January 9, 2026

“All three major fires remain active. There has been damage to properties in the Kromme River and Smith Town areas,” the municipality says.  

It says every effort is being made to bring the situation under control as swiftly and safely as possible. 

The veld fires caused major power outages in the Kouga, Humansdorp and Sarah Baartman areas. Eskom reported at 09:00 today that ‘positive progress’ had been made and power had been restored to most affected areas. 

The municipality says that the impact of the electrical outage on the water supply to St Francis Bay is being closely monitored. “At this stage, the water supply remains stable.” 

The municipality has urged motorists to use the R102 as an alternate route.  

Kouga Mayor Hattingh Bornman says there has been damage to properties at the Kromme River and Smithtown area. 

“We are doing everything we can to make sure it is brought under control as quickly as possible,” says Bornman.  

He says there is no need for additional areas to be evacuated at this time. 

Western Cape  

Fires broke out in Mossel Bay on Monday. By yesterday morning, a ‘fire stop’ was declared over the 18.9km² burn area, though the situation remains critical as teams monitor hotspots to prevent further flare-ups.  

The municipality said yesterday that while displaced residents had begun returning home, relief efforts had expanded to include psycho-social support for affected families and specialised medical care for a civilian and three injured firefighters. 

Also yesterday, Caxton Network News reported organisations like Gift of the Givers co-ordinating 24-hour relief, and search-and-rescue efforts were prioritising animal welfare. The SPCA and local clinics are treating a variety of displaced pets and wildlife for smoke inhalation and injuries. 

Last night, the Mossel Bay Municipality said there had been less flare ups in comparison to Wednesday evening.  

By the end of yesterday, all running fire lines had been stopped, and active mopping up operations continued.  

The municipality says they have the maximum resources deployed, and they are closely monitoring the wind direction and potency. 

“The site Incident Command Post is still located at the Mossel Bay Airfield, including the rehabilitation and refreshment area for fire crews and emergency workers,” says the municipality.  

It says more than 70 firefighters are on the ground. 

“No further structure or property loss has occurred since January 6. No evacuations took place during the past 36 hours. No further injuries were reported on Thursday. Firefighting efforts, including the deployment of aerial firefighting (two helicopters, one spotter and one bomber) throughout the afternoon, effectively secured vulnerable areas.”  

The municipality says bulldozers were used to create fire breaks. 

The municipality confirms that additional resources have been dispatched, including support from the Hessequa and George municipalities. These efforts involve using diverse water sources, such as grey water from regional wastewater works, extra water tankers and contributions from farmers’ associations across the greater Mossel Bay area, which have provided over 13 light utility vehicles equipped with 1 000l water tanks. 

Another Western Cape fire 

According to the Overberg District and Overstrand Municipalities, a massive wildfire that originated near Stanford earlier this week has already scorched over 37000ha, spreading rapidly toward Salmonsdam and into the Agulhas National Park. The municipalities reported that by yesterday, emergency crews had shifted their focus to critical structure protection as the flames reached the historic town of Elim and surrounding wine farms.  

While officials noted that heavy smoke and shifting winds have periodically grounded aerial resources, a multi-agency firefighting effort remains active on the ground.  

Extreme weather conditions across South Africa 

As of early January 2026, South Africa is grappling with a stark geographical divide in extreme weather, characterised by life-threatening floods in the east and severe water scarcity and fire risks in the south and west.   

According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and recent news reports, the eastern interior is under immense pressure; provinces like Mpumalanga and Gauteng have seen dam levels exceed 100% capacity.  

Conversely, the Western Cape and parts of the Eastern Cape are facing a deepening drought crisis. These hot and dry conditions have fuelled a devastating start to the year, with thousands of hectares already burnt and emergency funding being diverted to combat the blazes threatening the Garden Route, Elim and Kouga.  

Appeal for donations 

The Kouga Municipality has appealed for donations to support the firefighters. 

The requested items are bottled water, pre-packed food, rehydration drinks, energy bars, honey, Vaseline, eye drops, facecloths, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant for men and women.  

Items can be dropped off at St Francis Bay Fire Station, Humansdorp Fire Station and Newton Hall. Contact Elvina Felix on 067 108 5895, Sarah-Vee Goodman on 081 212 2317 or Rochelle Ludick on 067 108 6530 for further information. 

The Pink Loerie Foundation has also called for urgent emergency donations in Mossel Bay. Human van Dyk, the foundation’s spokesperson, says these fires have not only reduced households to ashes but have also left countless residents without necessities.  

“Families have lost everything – clothing, food, bedding, and personal belongings – while pets and animals are facing severe shortages of food and water. Immediate assistance is critically needed.”  

The foundation is appealing for the following donations, such as dog and cat food, bottled water, any electrolyte-type drinks, food, blankets, clothing and basic household items.  

“Every donation, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference to someone facing unimaginable loss,” Van Dyk said.  

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.