The devastating fires ravaging the Southern Cape has so far claimed lives, reported Netwerk24.

Three people died in a fire at Rheenendal near Knysna.

A fourth perished of a heart attack linked to the fires.

They have not been named.Massive fires helped on by gale force winds have ripped through large parts of the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo.

The N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield remains closed. According to Gerhard Otto, head of rescue services at Eden Municipality, a farm worker, his wife and their son burnt to death at Rheenendal.

A temporary control room has been established at Knysna’s fire station.

In Knysna a school residence, church and houses have burnt down so far. Residents are seeking refuge at the yacht club on the lake.

At least 26 fires have caused massive damage to the tourist town with at least 50 houses, including guest houses, burnt down.

Telephone connections to the Knysna municipality broke down due to the fires.

JOHANNESBURG – Residents in the Knysna CBD  are being urged to evacuate their homes on Wednesday evening as fires ravage the area.

Patients from the Knysna Provincial Hospital have been evacuated.

The fire has destroyed several cellphone towers in the town, making it difficult for firefighters to communicate.

Knysna Municipality spokesman Fran Kirsten said residents living in the Knysna Heights area, in the CBD, were being asked to leave their homes.

“We asking those residents and residents between there and all the way to the CBD to evacuate their homes and make their way to the Loerie Park sports field, where they will be met and fed so we can try and fight the fires and save their homes,” she said.

READ: Family of three dies in Knysna blaze

As fires sweep through the Knysna area, roads have been closed off.

Devastating fires in Knysna today. Just hoping everyone is safe #knysnafire pic.twitter.com/QeMEuTXjDX

— Kerry Kriel (@kerry_kriel) June 7, 2017

eNCA

Johannesburg – Legendary anti-apartheid photographer Ranjith Kally died at the age of 91 on Tuesday morning, his daughter, Jyoti Michael, said.

The Isipingo born man had been recovering from a hip injury after he slipped and fell at Michael’s Sandton home six weeks ago.

Kally was best known for capturing moments of some of South Africa’s greatest liberation struggle icons and celebrities such as Chief Albert Luthuli, Miriam Makeba, Monty Naicker, Thandi Klaasen and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

The author of Memory Against Forgetting worked for Drum magazine and Golden City Post, among other publications. 

His daughter, 58, said about six weeks ago, Kally slipped and fell while on a visit at her home.

“He came to Johannesburg to visit us and he slipped and fell and damaged his hip. He was admitted to Morningside Clinic and was being cared for by an orthopedic surgeon.”

Michael said the surgeon recommended that Kally recover further at a step-down facility.

“He came home last Thursday and he was in good spirits.”

On Tuesday morning, Michael said her father went to the bathroom and then collapsed on the bed.

“It was very peaceful. I think he could not handle the fact that he could not walk anymore and that he was no longer independent. My father was a very dignified man.”

Michael said her father had showed no signs of being ill.

“I made him breakfast as usual. He had Weet-Bix at 08:00. We didn’t really have a special conversation, everything seemed normal.”

‘Fond memories’

She said she would miss her father for the legend that he was.

“He was a living legend. He was the most powerful and strong man that I have ever known. We were both Sagittarius. He taught me to always tell the truth; that is the one lesson that I learnt from him.”

She said the funeral would take place this week.

Kally is survived by Michael and her sister who lives in Durban.

His wife died 25 years ago.

Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson, Satish Dupelia, shared fond memories in a Facebook tribute to the man he knew as “uncle Ranjith Kally”.

“As a 14-year-old boy, I studied photography and darkroom work but had no darkroom. Uncle Ranjith let me use his room with the proviso that I kept it as clean as I found it.

“When Percy Sledge came down, flash photography was banned as Percy had an eye problem. Uncle Ranjith did not moan and shot using a slightly higher speed film and darkroom techniques to produce brilliant shots that even Percy Sledge commented on. He was a great but humble gentleman and earned my respect.”

Dupelia said Kally knew his entire family and would tell him stories of his mum and dad.

“There is so much to say about this legend but his name and legacy will live on as he supplied the 1860 Heritage Centre with some classic shots that enhance our exhibitions.

“He could not attend the handing over of the centre but called from Jhb [Johannesburg] to ask how everything had gone. He was and is a legend but to those who knew him he was a warm hearted person with a classic sense of humour and was also never scared to call a spade a spade.

“Uncle Juggie Pather, who knows Uncle Ranjith from before I was born, and I, enjoyed great opportunities to take him out and enjoy a meal and catch up with old stories. We shall miss this legend and good friend and mentor. May his soul rest in peace – gone but never forgotten,” he said. 

JOHANNESBURG – A new chapter is unfolding in the spy tapes saga.

President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have approached the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to review last year’s North Gauteng High Court judgment.

The court ruled that Zuma should face charges of fraud, racketeering and corruption. It also found then-NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe‘s decision to drop charges, irrational.

“We find that Mr Mpshe found himself under pressure and he decided to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Zuma and consequently made an irrational decision,” Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba ruled in April 2016.

“Considering the situation in which he found himself, Mr Mpshe ignored the importance of the oath of office which demanded him to act independently, and without fear and favour…Mr Zuma should face the charges as outlined in the indictment,” Judge Ledwaba added.

The High Court later refused the President and NPA the right to appeal that ruling, but they have not given up.

They’re now trying to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court of Appeal, and have launched a scathing attack on the ruling, maintaining the Court overstepped the mark, and should have referred the case back to the NPA.

The NPA insists it dropped Zuma’s prosecution to preserve its independence and integrity.

Both insist there was clear political interference in the timing of the President’s prosecution in 2007, aimed at thwarting his political ambitions.

They maintain then-Scorpions head, Leonard McCarthy, delayed charging Zuma until after the ANC’s Polokwane elective conference, to prevent him from being seen as a victim of his rival, Thabo Mbeki.

READ: The end of the beginning – Zille on spy tapes

The NPA is also arguing that even if Mpshe was wrong in his decision to withdraw the case against Zuma, this does not make that decision irrational…and then open to being set aside.

Both Zuma and the NPA are adamant that the High Court cannot now rule that the President should be charged. They say this decision must be made by the NPA.

National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, has also repeatedly sought to assure South Africans that he is NOT a puppet – and decided to appeal the Zuma prosecution ruling on legal, not political grounds.

“I will always do what is correct, irrespective of whether the individual concerned is an ordinary citizen, a cabinet minister or a sitting President,” he said in May 2016.

“If there’s any suggestion that I may have succumbed to any pressure in making my decision, I can assure the public that is absolutely ridiculous and completely unfounded,” Abrahams declared at the time.

WATCH: Tricky question stumps NPA boss

The date for President Zuma and the NPA’s prosecution appeal hearing has yet to be set.

eNCA