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VELD FIRE MANAGEMENT: NATIONAL SUPPORT STRATEGY PUBLISHED, THREE SETS OF PROPOSALS OUT FOR COMMENT
- 11 September 2026
- Environmental Law
- SA Legal Academy
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment has gazetted four documents under the 1998 National Veld & Forest Fire Act:
- a national fire protection association support strategy for immediate implementation
- draft amendments to the 2003 national fire protection association regulations (for input by 11 October 2026)
- draft national veld fire appeal regulations (for input by 11 October 2026), and
- draft fire danger rating system and exemption guidelines (for input by 11 October 2026).
Released in draft form in October 2024 for public comment, the national fire protection associations strategy:
- outlines departmental obligations under Act in providing support to:
- associations formed by peri-urban and rural communities susceptible to veld fires, and
- landowners on international borders, and
- seeks to ensure a more equitable distribution of support in the context of vulnerable communities:
- without the resources to form an association, and/or
- unable to meet the department’s working-on-fire programme requirements.
Draft amendments to the 2003 national fire protection association regulations proposes changes to prevailing provisions for forming or joining an association, as well as related ministerial obligations.
The draft national veld fire appeal regulations focus on procedures relating to the submission, processing and consideration of appeal applications, as well as ensuing decisions.
Proposing a colour-coded fire danger rating system, the draft guidelines outline the criteria to be met and procedures followed when applying for an exemption from regulations prohibiting the lighting, use and maintenance of an open-air fire in high and extreme risk areas. Once finalised, they will repeal and replace the 2013 regulations.
- national strategy
- draft appeal regulations
- draft guidelines
- draft danger rating and exemption regulations
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch
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