Several fires follow lightning storm

Flames raged through the dry vegetation as firefighters battled to contain the blaze.

Platinum Bushvelder newspaper | Thabazimbi – A sudden afternoon storm, fierce winds and tinder-dry grass combined to spark a series of dangerous veld fires around Thabazimbi and Marakele National Park on Friday 4 September 2026.

Thaba Fire & Rescue received the first call at approximately 15:00, reporting a veld fire that had started at Kwaggasvlakte.

Driven by strong winds through tall, dry grass, the flames spread rapidly towards the R510 (the Lephalale road).

When the wind changed direction, the fire began moving towards Marakele and the surrounding mountains, where another large veld fire was already burning on Aasvoëlkop.

Eight fires sparked inside Marakele

According to Marakele National Park manager Koketso Kotsoe, lightning strikes during Friday afternoon’s storm are believed to have ignited approximately eight separate fires inside the park.

Once teams had established that the park’s animals were safe, their priority shifted to protecting infrastructure and properties bordering the park.

Kotsoe confirmed that no large animals were killed in the fires.

Strong winds caused fires burning inside and outside the park to move closer together, making the situation extremely difficult to control.

Thaba Fire & Rescue, the Waterberg District Fire Team, SANParks personnel and local farmers joined forces to contain the flames and prevent further destruction.

Although rain later helped reduce the intensity of some of the fires, it did not extinguish them all.

The fire on Aasvoëlkop remained under constant observation, with teams ready to intervene if necessary.

There are no firebreaks on the mountain itself, but several firebreaks within Marakele National Park help slow and contain fires under such conditions.

Red glow lights up the night

By sunset, the scale of the blaze was clearly visible, with an ominous red glow illuminating the mountain against the night sky.

After hours of exhausting firefighting, the teams were finally able to return home at approximately 23:30, once the situation had been brought under control.

Their rest, however, was short-lived.

Shortly after 02:00 on Saturday morning, another emergency call was received.

Lightning had reportedly struck two palm trees in Mahem Street in Thabazimbi, setting them alight.

Firefighters responded swiftly and had the situation under control by approximately 03:30.