Fire breaks out at Dayizenza shopping complex
Fire fighters battled for nearly four hours to contain the fire from spreading through the shopping centre.
National news:
White River Emergency services were called to the Dayizenza Shopping Plaza after a blaze broke out at about 20:00 on Saturday.
The Dayizenza Shopping Plaza is situated in Mahushu village between White River and Hazyview.
It took the fire fighters about four hours to contain the fire from spreading through the shopping centre which covers 18000 square meters.
The shopping complex houses 54 shops, but only eight of the shops and a bank were affected. These include Hanan Traders, Debonaires Pizza , KFC, Markhams, Habib, Total Sport, Capitec, Legit, Edgars Active and Identity. Two of the shops were gutted completely.
Damage is expected run into millions of rands.
Spokesperson for the centre Mr Oupa Pilane has confirmed that only nine businesses and 3 offices were affected.
“We are currently taking all the necessary safety precautions in consultation with the authorities who have advised that we suspend trading until an assessment has been done to confirm that the rest of the centre can open to trade safely.”
Pilane further said that no casualties were reported as most of the shops had already closed.
“It is unfortunate that the fire is going to affect not only the workers but also the community in and around the centre who now have to travel long distances to do their shopping. The management and owners of Dayizenza would like to apologise to the community for the inconvenience caused by this unfortunate situation, however the safety of the community is our primary concern at this time”
The cause of the blaze has yet to be confirmed.
Captain Jerry Sibiya from the Nelspruit Local Criminal Record Centre confirmed that investigators had been deployed to determine the possible causes of the fire.
The Dayizenza Plaza was officially opened by President Jacob Zuma on 4 July 2015.
(Photos supplied).
