The City of Cape Town has offered a R50,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest and successful conviction of those responsible for an arson attack at the Ikhwezi Clinic in Nomzamo, Strand.
The Clinic is the biggest city health facility and treats on average 500 patients per day.
The facility also has the biggest number of patients on anti-retroviral treatment, and also treats about 500 patients for tuberculosis each year.
Mayoral committee member for community services and health, Zahid Badroodien says he has liaised with Cape Town mayor, Dan Plato and secured the reward following, what he called the “senseless” arson attack.
He says fire and rescue services responded to an alert in the early hours of Friday morning and managed to extinguish the fire in a few hours time.
Badroodien says there has been extensive damage to the roof and the clinic interior, including the pharmacy and records room, where patient folders are kept.
Initial damage estimates put the cost of repairs at R10 million.
- African News Agency
According to a city statement, the Ikhwezi Clinic will be closed indefinitely until repairs are completed.
