The sister of Khethiwe Ngcobo, one of the firefighters who died in the recent veld fire in the Boston area of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, said their family was struggling to come to terms with her death.

Ngcobo, 41, died on Sunday while battling a runaway fire along the R617 Boston Road near Mpophomeni.

She was a firefighter for 12 years, a family member told the POST.

Her sister Zanele Ncgobo said: “Khethiwe has three children and was the breadwinner in our family. She loved and took care of all of us. I can’t explain how painful it really is for us as a family. My parents have taken her death quite badly as well."

Six firefighters were killed while responding to a veld fire in the Boston area, outside Howick, on Sunday. | Midlands EMS

Six firefighters died while trying to put out the blaze on Sterling Farm. They belonged to a company called Farmusa Contracting, which provided Sappi with private firefighters, according to Sappi.

Sappi said the Sappi Pinewoods plantation had been on fire since about 3am on Sunday. The farm owner contacted Sappi for assistance at around 10am.

Of the 15 firefighters from Farmusa Contracting, six died.

In a statement, Duane Roothman, the Vice President Sappi Forests, said: “No matter how prepared we are for the fire season, including extensive training that is undertaken, our worst fear remains any loss of life. Sappi is shocked and deeply affected by this tragic incident, and we express our sincere condolences to Farmusa and the families of the deceased."

On Monday, Thamsanqa Ntuli, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal; Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; and Dickson Masemola, the Deputy Minister, met with the families of victims of veld fire.

Hlabisa paid homage to all those that helped the families, who had lost their loved ones.

“We look forward to all others that can extend their hands to help these families during a difficult time, until they bury their loved ones and even beyond that, so that these families can lift up their heads and continue with life after this heavy storm," said Hlabisa.

“I also want to appeal to all members of the community to help and stop those who set fires, for whatever reason they are doing it because at the end of the day, it is going to cost our province and country heavily,” Hlabisa said.

The POST

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“She was the breadwinner in our family,” says sister of late firefighter