Looters rush into burning building in Vryheid to steal groceries

The owner of the building engulfed by flames yesterday, Faizel Sheik, expressed frustration after hearing that the people renting the warehouse, were also living inside.

“A large percentage of the people who rent these buildings often also live inside, and I have said time and time again that their appliances might cause the entire building to go up in flames one day. Look what happened!” said Mr Sheik.

Mr Sheik said that he has been trying to get hold of the people that currently rent out the warehouse since the fire started, but to no avail.

AbaQulusi Municipality’s Director of Strategic Planning and Development, Stefan Landman, explained that the reason for the poor water supply was that the pump at Klipfontein was struck by lightning during Friday’s storm.

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“The pump seems to be at an isolated area that is prone to getting struck by lightning. We had already started to issue out information to the community to let them know that water supply would be affected and that the situation would be rectified by Wednesday, at the latest,” explained Mr Landman.

The police did their best to control the crowds and explained that they had to work harder as some of the people had entered the burning building trying to steal stock that was stored inside, including bags of rice, maize, chips, cooldrinks, and whatever else they could reach. Mayor, Jerry Sibiya, has urged landlords that are renting out business property to ensure that there is a clause in their leases that makes it clear that nobody sleeps on premises.

Medical as well as fire department officials who were on scene, all confirmed that nobody had been hurt nor was anyone trapped in the building.

Buurtwag chairman, Andre Rheder, said that, while res ponders managed to contain the blaze yesterday, the flames flared up again this morning.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Vryheid business fire rages on as town’s water supply runs out