Fires destroy 56 homes in Aussenkehr and 80 in Komsburg farm
A series of fires has left scores of families homeless in the Aussenkehr and Komsburg farm areas, with a combined total of more than 130 homes destroyed in recent incidents.
In Aussenkehr, two fires in December 2025 alone destroyed 56 houses. The first blaze, on 21 December, claimed 44 homes, followed by a second fire on 26 December that destroyed another 12. These incidents come on the back of a major fire in September 2024, when 72 houses were razed in the Aussenkehr informal settlement.
Late last week, another fire broke out at Komsburg farm in the Ariamsvlei area near Aussenkehr, destroying an estimated 80 houses and leaving dozens of families without shelter.
Unsafe cooking practices blamed
Community members have pointed to unsafe cooking practices in reed houses as a major cause of the recurring fires.
“Some people cook in the reed houses. After cooking, some do not put water on the fire to make sure it is completely extinguished,” said Albertus Blaauw, a community member from Komsburg.
Another resident, Mawano Lukas, described the speed at which the flames spread. “It happened so fast. Within 45 minutes, all 16 houses went down,” he said.
Blaauw stressed that the community urgently needs government intervention, particularly around land tenure issues. “We need the government to check out this farm, because at this moment they say the land belongs to a company,” he said.
The ||Kharas regional governor, Dawid Gertze, said he is willing to return to Komsburg, provided there is cooperation and commitment from the community to finding sustainable solutions.
“But please, my good people, help us. Let us cooperate and support us with possible solutions you would want to see us bring for you,” Gertze said, adding that government resources are limited and cannot indefinitely respond to repeated disasters.
Relief efforts underway
In response to the latest fires, the ||Kharas Youth Desk has launched a donation drive to assist victims of the Aussenkehr mass fires. The youth desk has appealed to individuals, businesses and organisations to support families who lost their homes and belongings in the devastating blazes.
In Aussenkehr, two fires in December 2025 alone destroyed 56 houses. The first blaze, on 21 December, claimed 44 homes, followed by a second fire on 26 December that destroyed another 12. These incidents come on the back of a major fire in September 2024, when 72 houses were razed in the Aussenkehr informal settlement.
Late last week, another fire broke out at Komsburg farm in the Ariamsvlei area near Aussenkehr, destroying an estimated 80 houses and leaving dozens of families without shelter.
Unsafe cooking practices blamed
Community members have pointed to unsafe cooking practices in reed houses as a major cause of the recurring fires.
“Some people cook in the reed houses. After cooking, some do not put water on the fire to make sure it is completely extinguished,” said Albertus Blaauw, a community member from Komsburg.
Another resident, Mawano Lukas, described the speed at which the flames spread. “It happened so fast. Within 45 minutes, all 16 houses went down,” he said.
Blaauw stressed that the community urgently needs government intervention, particularly around land tenure issues. “We need the government to check out this farm, because at this moment they say the land belongs to a company,” he said.
The ||Kharas regional governor, Dawid Gertze, said he is willing to return to Komsburg, provided there is cooperation and commitment from the community to finding sustainable solutions.
“But please, my good people, help us. Let us cooperate and support us with possible solutions you would want to see us bring for you,” Gertze said, adding that government resources are limited and cannot indefinitely respond to repeated disasters.
Relief efforts underway
In response to the latest fires, the ||Kharas Youth Desk has launched a donation drive to assist victims of the Aussenkehr mass fires. The youth desk has appealed to individuals, businesses and organisations to support families who lost their homes and belongings in the devastating blazes.
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