Raging fires caused havoc in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, SABC news reported.

In the Eastern Cape one person was killed and another seriously injured at Holy Cross in Flagstaff. Mvume School in the same area was also damaged. Veld fires also broke out in Transkei.

OR Tambo disaster management sent a helicopter to help put the blazes out.

Thirty houses were burnt down when fires swept through Maqanyeli village in Ngqeleni near Mthatha.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said nobody was injured and no animals harmed.

The SABC reported that in Winterton, a Kenaf plantation was destroyed. The damage was estimated at R30-million. Kenaf-SA is the largest producer of a sustainable, eco-friendly plant fibre which is an alternative to petroleum-reliant, synthetic raw materials.

KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said three people were treated for smoke inhalation when a fire broke out at Westmead industrial area in Pinetown on Wednesday.

The fire started around 5pm, said ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks.

Fire engines were still at the scene at 7pm and gusts of wind made it difficult for them to douse the flames.

Five women were killed when they tried to fight a Transkei veld fire in Bhukwini village in the Libode area in the early hours of Sunday morning. Three died on the scene, the other two in hospital on Monday.

The South African Weather Service issued a fire warning for KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape on Wednesday. Forecaster Carl Loots said hot, dry and windy conditions in those areas favoured the spread of fires.

Loots said similar weather was expected in the regions on Thursday.