By Johnathan Paoli
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers has intensified its emergency operations across both the Eastern and Western Cape as firefighters battle multiple, fast-moving wildfires fuelled by strong winds, extreme heat and widespread infrastructure failures.
In the Eastern Cape, Gift of the Givers teams are on the ground in the Kouga Municipality following an urgent request for assistance as three major fires continue to rage across a vast area stretching from Kou-Kamma to Jeffreys Bay.
The blazes, burning in the Kou-Kamma area, between St Francis Bay and Paradise Beach, and between Kabeljous and Jeffreys Bay, have forced evacuations in several communities due to the high risk posed to lives and property.
Affected areas include Zwartenbosch towards Hankey, Oyster Bay Road, the Kromme River and Riverside areas, Kabeljous River behind Nature’s Valley Private Game Reserve, and Smithfield.
Municipal authorities have warned residents that the situation remains dangerous and unpredictable, particularly as shifting winds threaten to spread the fires further.
Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said the sheer scale of the fires, estimated at nearly 20 kilometres in length in some areas, has overwhelmed ground-based firefighting efforts.
With only about 65 firefighters initially deployed and large sections of the terrain inaccessible by road, the organisation has prioritised aerial firefighting support.
At the request of the Kouga Municipality, Gift of the Givers moved swiftly to secure a water bomber helicopter capable of dropping up to 2 000 litres of water per sortie.
The helicopter arrived in St Francis Bay on Thursday morning and has begun targeted water drops on the most dangerous fire fronts, working in coordination with a municipal helicopter.
“To intervene effectively and safely, we needed to control the fire from the air. Once the fire is suppressed from above, firefighters on the ground can move in and do their work,” Sooliman said.
Gift of the Givers has also dispatched a water tanker from Adelaide to support aerial operations and replenish local farmers’ JoJo tanks, which are being used to fight fires on farmland.
Teams have been supplying firefighters, farmers, SAPS members and disaster management personnel with fuel, energy drinks, meals and other essentials as they work through the night.
The crisis has been compounded by extensive power outages caused by fire-damaged substations, which in turn shut down pumps at the Churchill and Impofu dams, cutting off water supply to several towns.
While Eskom technicians have restored power to many areas and both dams are now operational, air trapped in the pipelines means water tankers remain essential in the interim.
Bottled water is being distributed in affected communities.
Mario Ferreira from Gift of the Givers representative in the Eastern Cape, speaking from St Francis Bay, described the situation as “chaotic”, with fires jumping several metres due to strong winds and intense heat.
He confirmed that several homes, outbuildings, grazing land and crops have been destroyed, though exact figures are still being assessed.
Relief centres have been activated, and counselling services may be required in the coming days due to widespread anxiety among residents.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian organisation is also heavily involved in wildfire and fire-displacement responses across the Western Cape.
In Mossel Bay, where fires scorched nearly 19 square kilometres earlier this week, a fire stop has been declared, although teams remain on high alert to manage flare-ups.
More than 70 firefighters, supported by helicopters and bulldozers, continue mopping-up operations.
Further west, the situation remains critical in the Overstrand and Overberg regions, where a massive wildfire originating near Stanford has burned more than 37 000 hectares, threatening Elim, Salmonsdam and parts of the Agulhas National Park.
A Code Red remains in place, with additional crews and aerial support deployed despite challenging wind conditions.
In Cape Town, Gift of the Givers is assisting hundreds of residents displaced by fires in informal settlements, including Khayelitsha, Imizamo Yethu and Mbekweni.
In Khayelitsha alone, more than 370 people were left homeless after 177 structures were destroyed.
The organisation is providing food, blankets, mattresses, hygiene packs and ongoing support as verification and rebuilding efforts begin.
Sooliman said the organisation remains on high alert nationwide as extreme weather continues to drive disaster conditions.
“With strong winds forecast to pick up again, the situation can change at any moment. Our focus remains on saving lives, reducing risk, and supporting communities until stability is restored,” he said.
Authorities and aid organisations have appealed for donations of bottled water, food, clothing and firefighting supplies as emergency responses continue across both provinces.
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