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Police in Komani in the Eastern Cape are investigating a case of arson after a runaway fire destroyed several warehouses at the Bowker Park Business Centre in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, said in a statement on Saturday that the damage is estimated at around R80 million.
He said the fire was spotted by members of a local armed response company at around 3 am, where they found “most warehouses and some offices” engulfed in flames, and raised the alarm.
Nkohli said one of the affected buildings housed the SAPS Supply Chain Management Offices.
He said the damaged and destroyed warehouses held the stock for furniture stores as well as vehicles. “A case of arson was opened for further investigation.”
Police are urging anyone with information that could assist with their investigation to contact Lieutenant-Colonel Ntombekaya Mahlanza on 082 319 7944.
Meanwhile, DA constituency leader for the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, Jane Cowley, said this was the fifth devastating fire in the town in recent months.
She said the Fire Department remains incapable of rendering a fire-fighting service as they have no functional vehicles and no equipment.
Cowley said she will be writing to provincial authorities to urgently institute an administrator for the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
