Speaking to
Daily Maverick’s Our Burning Planet unit on Saturday, Rob Erasmus of Enviro Wildfire Services, the park’s independent fire investigator, said the Thursday fire had been started by a homeless person on private property near the park.
“The Oudekraal fire investigation has been completed and the person responsible has been identified,” said Erasmus.
“It was caused by an unattended vagrant fire,” he added. “The cause of the fire is regarded as accidental negligence. We have photographs of the origin of the fire and the person’s photograph and name. He has admitted to having made the fire there. It’s now up to the landowner to decide what action to take. Another homeless person has already rebuilt a shelter within 24 hours, confirming that this is a well-used site for vagrants.”