More than 300 firefighters and 39 vehicles are still battling veld fires in the Southern Cape. They have been deployed to Jonkersberg between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn and in the De Vlugt area, near Plettenberg Bay.
Fire officials on the Garden Route are, however, optimistic that if cool and rainy conditions continue they might be able to contain 80% of the fires in the region. Six spotter planes and five helicopters are assisting.
The Joint Operations Centre says the conditions are conducive for fire-fighting and will allow firefighters to rest.
Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, visited the region to assess the damage from fires burning for two weeks.
Zille visited the Joint Operations Centre in George for an update. After that, she paid a visit to the Historical Toll house on the Outeniqua Pass which was gutted by the fires.
She also offered comforting words to the Oelf family who lost a loved one in the Farleigh fires.
19 homes were gutted in the small forestry community.
The much-needed rain has brought some relief. The cooler conditions are expected to continue for the next few days.
