UJ office block gutted by fire
The suspect responsible for the fire was arrested and will appear in court.
University of Johannesburg Bunting campus now faces damages of close to R1 million after suspect burnt down an office block.
On August 15 at around 12:00, Brixton Police Station was alerted by UJ Protection Services of a suspect detained by security guards for arson.
On arrival, police officers found a 31-year-old male who alleged that he paid R16 000 to two individuals at UJ to arrange that his student accommodation become an accredited student accommodation. However, after he had paid the them, he received no feedback from these individuals.
“The suspect got tired of asking for services paid and he walked into an office block at Bunting campus, poured petrol over the furniture, and before setting it alight he told the personnel in the office to get out of the building,” said the station’s spokesperson, Jeanette Backhoff.
Backhoff said the suspect then told the staff to get out of the office as he was going to burn the building down. ” He then went to his vehicle, a white Toyota bakkie, where he was arrested by the security officers on campus.”
Two employees were taken by ambulance to Milpark Hospital for smoke inhalation and the suspect will appear in court on August 17.
Backhoff commended the Protection Services at UJ for their quick response and arrest of the suspect.
“This is proof that Brixton SAPS has a good relationship with the security companies that serve the Brixton policing area.”
She said that together they will curb crime and arrest suspects.
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