Phiwokuhle Mothemela
Traffic on the busy Cape Road in Gqeberha was brought to a standstill on Tuesday morning as a huge fire engulfed Richly House, a 119-year-old building home to the Champions Bar and Club High.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said seven fire tenders were dispatched to the scene on Cape Road after the fire was first reported at 07:08 AM.
"Following the rapid and effective response, the fire was extinguished by 07:55 AM, preventing any injuries or fatalities," said Metro spokesperson, Sithembiso Soyaya.
He said the cause of the fire remains under investigation by their fire safety division. He added that a building inspector is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the property’s structural integrity to further evaluate the damage's extent and identify potential safety hazards.
"We commend the exceptional dedication and swift response by Nelson Mandela Bay fire fighters, whose prompt action ensured the containment of the blazing fire," he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said no case was opened with Mount Road SAPS. He said the fire broke out before business hours.
Meanwhile, a person on the scene who did not want to be identified but said he was a shareholder had rushed to the scene after their security company called to inform him that the alarm was going off.
On arrival, he found the building on fire. The man said the building owner was in Georgia.
The man also confirmed that it is not the first time the house caught fire.
DA Ward 5 councillor Terri Stander wrote in a Facebook post that she would call for an investigation by the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority and the Mandela Bay Heritage Trust into the circumstances surrounding the "loss of this heritage icon."
She noted that Richly House on Cape Road was built in 1906 and has been used as a nursing home, brothel, boarding house, and, most recently, a restaurant.
She also wrote that the fire highlights the importance of ensuring the electrical infrastructure in heritage properties is up to code and properly maintained.
