As Cape Town counts the cost of the devastating fire the Executive Mayor of the City, Dan Plato announced minutes ago that the fire has been contained.
Video Courtesy of City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town is investigating the cause of the fire that started on Sunday morning. A man in his 30’s was arrested on Philip Kgosana Drive in connection with the fire at 20:10 on Sunday night said City of Cape Town Mayco member for Safetu and Security, JP Smith.
According to reports a member of a local neighbourhood watch witnessed three suspects making a fire on the mountain, and alerted authorities. One men was arrested and the other two made good their escape.
It is suspected that a fire started by a vagrant may have sparked the blaze which gutted the Rhdes Memorial Restaurant and Tea Garden, Mostert Mill and historic buildings in the University of Cape Town.
This morning the city started evacuating residents as the fire spread towards Devil’s Peak and Vredehoek.
Loudhailer vehicle urges residents to evacuate. Video Courtesy of @prideshelter
“Precautionary evacuations have gotten underway in Peppertree Road, Vredehoek after the fire spread overnight. Some residents opted to evacuate to other parts of the suburb due to the smoke hanging over the area,” said Disaster Risk ManagementCenter spokeperson, Charlotte Powell.
“Evacuate immediately and remember to take chronic medication, identity documents, passports, cash, cell phones, bottled water, non-perishable food, a set of clothing, blanket and toiletries,” the City said in an urgent message.
Meanwhile, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will assist animals that are displaced.
The City of Cape Town said there are no injuries to civilians that have been reported to the Disaster Operations Centre to date.
The fire started on Sunday around 8:45am close to Hospital Bend. It moved up towards Rhodes Memorial and then towards the University of Cape Town upper campus.
The students living on campus have been evacuated and the City is working with the university in coordinating accommodation for affected students.
Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said the provincial disaster management continues to monitor the ongoing fire and support the City of Cape Town and its partners.
“Four helicopters continue to water bomb the fire lines and teams from the City of Cape Town, Working on Fire and SANParks continue to work non-stop to bring the fire under control,” he said on Sunday evening.
According to Bredell, about 200 firefighters are on the fire line. Unfortunately, two firefighters have been injured and taken to hospital.
The blaze also caused some damage to infrastructure, including destroying the historic Mostert’s Mill next to the M3.
UCT Executive Director, Ujala Satgoor, confirmed that the disaster struck at the heart of the university’s library.
“I write this message with a deep sense of sorrow and loss at the havoc and devastation it wrought upon the Reading Room of the Jagger Library.
“As some of us watched, from on-site, with horror and helplessness this elegant and historical library burn, I can only imagine the shock and horror you must have felt as you watched the news reports and pictures of this destruction,” she wrote.
Satgoor said the Reading Room is completely gutted, while the fire detection system managed to trigger the fire shutters, thereby preventing the spread to other parts of the library.
“Some of our valuable collections have been lost. However, a full assessment can only be done once the building has been declared safe and we can enter the building. An official statement is forthcoming and until such time.
“I request that individuals refrain from speculation and conjecture.”
Residents near the fire are advised to take some precautionary steps, including:
- Remaining Hydrated.
- Keeping windows and doors closed until further notice, as protection against smoke and heat.
- Keeping pets indoors, where possible.
- Moving garden furniture that is flammable under cover, where possible.
If the situation gets worse, residents will be alerted timeously.
In the event of an emergency, please contact:
- City of Cape Town Emergency Services: 021 480 7700 or 107 if you are using a cell phone.
- Provincial Emergency Number: 112.
- Table Mountain National Park: 021 957 4700.
DA Shadow Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Dave Bryant MP released this statement today:
The DA has today written to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, to request an urgent investigation into the circumstances leading to the fire on the slopes of Table Mountain and the subsequent damage to UCT, Mostert’s Mill and other buildings. We have requested that the investigation be led by an independent entity with the aim to establish (but not be limited to) the following:
- Whether all firebreaks in the area were properly cut and maintained prior to the outbreak of the fire.
- Whether the threat of the high fuel load from the old pine trees and debris close to UCT had been identified by SAN Parks, and if so, why this had not been addressed?
- Whether all fire hydrants in the area were/are in proper working order and whether there were a sufficient number of hydrants.
- Whether there are other areas in the Table Mountain National Park with high fuel loads that could lead to other fires.
While the hot weather and high winds certainly played a major role in the fast spread of this fire, there should have been more effective contingency measures in place to prevent the rapid spread and both SAN Parks and UCT need to provide answers in this regard.
In response to a parliamentary question I submitted in February, Minister Creecy gave the assurance that SAN Parks was preparing for potential mountain fires and that homes close to the mountain were protected by firebreaks. It appears that these firebreaks have not proven as effective as thought, as it is clear that the fire managed to reach suburban homes and cause severe damage to UCT. Burning debris and embers spread to suburbs quite far from the mountain edge, setting trees alight.
We commend and thank all those brave firefighters, rangers, volunteers and law enforcement staff for their ongoing efforts to stop the fire and keep communities safe. Our thoughts are also with all those whose properties have been damaged or are under threat.
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has welcomed the swift response of emergency services to contain a fire that gutted sections of the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Sunday.
The campus became a casualty of a raging inferno that started above the Philip Kgosana Drive in the game camp area between UCT and the busy Hospital Bend junction near Groote Schuur Hospital.
In a statement on Monday, Nzimande commended the timely response by the UCT Council and Management to find alternative accommodation for 4 000 affected students and the decision to suspend all the academic activities on Monday and Tuesday.
This was all while the university assessed the situation and damage to the institution’s property.
“This decision is important because the safety of students and staff remains our utmost importance,” said the Minister.
In the statement, he wished those in hospital a speedy recovery.
The Minister expressed sadness at how the fire destroyed the iconic African Studies Library, the memorial restaurant, and the UCT’s upper campus where boarding students reside.
“The African Studies Library houses the African National Congress archives and record of the underground publications. This library is also repository of the Bleek Lloyd collection of recorded stories and notebooks of their engagement with the /Xam and !Kun Cape San people of the mid-19th century, as well as original copies of pioneering isiXhosa newspapers like Imvo ZabaNtsundu, amongst others,” said Nzimande.
The Minister has directed Higher Health to work with other emergency relief agencies to offer students debriefing support and that Higher Health’s mobile clinic, and psychologists support the UCT in-house team for psycho-social services in order to further support students.
Higher Health is an agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training that is responsible for promoting the health and wellbeing of students across South Africa’s public universities and technical and vocational training colleges.
Nzimande thanked the private sector and government departments and agencies who assisted the university in managing the after-effects of the blaze.
The Minister has further called on the more participation of the private sector to support the #UCTFire emergency relief fund.
The public can donate essential items and food to students at Old Mutual West Campus, 91 Jan Smuts Road, Pinelands, Cape Town. Items must be sealed, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.
Financial donations can be made to (donor names can be included as references):
- Account name: UCT Donations Account
- Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
- Branch code: Rondebosch Branch, 025009
- Account number: 07 152 2387
- Swift code: SBZAZAJJ
Premier Winde thanks firefighters, NGOs and residents for bravery and generosity
At a press briefing held by Premier Winde together with the Mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato, on the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town’s response to the Table Mountain fire. During the briefing, I reiterated how thankful I am to the brave fire fighters and generous residents of the province for their efforts.
The briefing was further attended by the Minister of Local Government and Environmental Affairs, Minister Bredell, the Vice Chancellor of UCT, Professor Phakeng, the Chief Director of Disaster Management, Mr Deiner and the Fire Manager for Table Mountain National Park, Mr Prins.
I would like to thank all the firefighters, NGOs including Gift of the Givers, and generous residents in the Western Cape who have selflessly come forward by offering their help. Thank you for your efforts to put a stop to the fire and help those in need. I further wish a speedy recovery to those five firefighters who were injured in the line of duty.
It was devastating to hear of the loss of major heritage sites including UCT’s African studies library, Rhodes Memorial Park’s restaurant and Mostert’s mill, along with vast tracts of land. But through the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town’s coordinated response, we have been able to salvage large parts of the mountain and University.
I was also very pleased to hear that SAPS in the Western Cape have arrested a suspect on a charge of arson in connection with the Table Mountain fires. The suspect was arrested yesterday and is due to appear in court soon. I call on SAPS to leave no stone unturned in their investigations to ensure that this does not happen again.
At the same time, I remind residents in the vicinity of the fire to take precautionary measures including:
- Staying hydrated;
- Keeping windows and doors shut until further notice;
- Keeping pets indoors;
- Moving garden furniture that is flammable under cover; and
- Being aware that if the situation gets worse, residents will be alerted timeously.
I also remind residents that in the event of an emergency, they can contact:
- City of Cape Town Emergency Services Landline: 021 480 7700 or 107 (for cell phones)
- Provincial Emergency Number: 112
- Table Mountain National Park: 021 957 4700
Ministerial residence gutted in Cape fire
A ministerial residence owned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in Newlands has been completely destroyed by the fire in Cape Town.
The fire, which has been raging on Devil’s Peak, has since been contained, while firefighters are still monitoring the situation.
According to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, no one was in the ministerial home at the time of the fire.
Meanwhile, family members of three Members of the Executive have been evacuated from Walmer Estate properties, as there was an immediate threat on Monday morning when the fire moved over Philip Kgosana Drive.
The family members of one Minister and two Deputy Ministers were also evacuated from Walmer Estate properties.
The department is in contact with the various ministries to establish the level of support the families need. They have all managed to secure alternative accommodation.
“[The police] have advised these families not to return to the houses due to heavy smoke and strong winds in the area, as it is not yet completely safe for them to return to the area,” the department said in a statement.
On Sunday, the fire had come close to the Deputy President’s residence in Groote Schuur Estate but the police worked with firefighters and the fire was quickly brought under control in the area. There was no damage to the property.
“DPWI continues to monitor the situation closely and is working with the local SAPS to ensure that we do all we can to support the efforts of the firefighters and SAPS to protect lives and property.
“We also extend our thanks to the various organisations and Capetonians, who have once again been quick to open their hearts to support the firefighters in this massive task, as well as offer all kinds of help to students and families who have had to evacuate their homes for their safety.
“We know that the very best effort is being made to bring the fire under control and extinguish it, and wish all our firefighters and support teams strength as they continue to battle the elements,” the department said.
20 April 2021: Businesses have stepped up to support over 1 000 students affected by Cape Town fire
The immense response to the Cape Town fire from across government, civil society and the private sector has been incredible. In particular, I would like to thank businesses in Cape Town, especially those in the tourism and hospitality industry, who have stepped up to quickly assist those affected by the fire, especially University of Cape Town (UCT) students who had to be evacuated from their residences.
Through the co-ordination efforts of FEDHASA and Ubuntu Beds, over 29 accommodation businesses provided 560 rooms to almost 1 000 UCT students on Sunday, 18 April 2021, and the support continues to increase. Ongoing accommodation will be provided to students until such time as they are able to return to their residences.
Old Mutual have offered their premises in Pinelands as a collection point for donations and their kitchen facilities as a base for the preparation of over 12 000 meals which have been distributed by Gift of the Givers and Hospital Heroes to the students.
Restaurants and fast-food outlets such as Den Anker, Burger King, Tigers Milk, City Grill Steakhouse and others are also providing meals to UCT students.
In fact, just this morning I had the privilege of visiting Den Anker to meet with management and the team working hard to provide meals to the students. With the assistance of donors, they’ve already provided 40 meals to students on Sunday night and 350 meals on Monday night.
I also visited Makers Landing and met with representatives from the V&A Waterfront to hear about their efforts to feed students from the venue – since Sunday over 4 000 sandwiches have been made and 1 000 lunches, 1000 dinners and 1000 breakfasts have been served.
Makers Landing is also available to students as a work space with free wi-fi, and the V&A Waterfront are providing personal care items to the students that are currently being housed in temporary accommodation at Breakwater Lodge.
Other retailers and brands such Massmart, Engen, The Foschini Group, Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Pioneer Foods, Blue Ribbon bread and Coke have also offered donations and supplies, while Uber and Bolt have provided free trips to transport students and deliver meals, and we are grateful to them for their support as well.
These are just a few examples of the many impressive efforts made by the private sector, many of whom have been hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic yet are showing great initiative to support our fire-fighting heroes and those displaced by the fire.
These efforts could also not have been achieved without the help of hundreds of volunteers who have given generously of their time to assist.
This comprehensive and immediate response to the crisis is also a result of lessons learnt and systems implemented to accommodate healthcare workers and stranded international tourists during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While the Cape Town fire has caused great damage to property and the irreplaceable loss of historical works and important research, the cost of which will only be full counted in the days and weeks to come, the efforts of business to step up and assist in this moment of crisis are welcomed and are certainly a positive during this tragedy.
20 April 2021: DA WC supports call for full investigation into fires
With the fire on Table Mountain having been largely contained, the DA in the Western Cape applauds the coordinated efforts against the blaze, particularly that of the firefighters who have risked their lives. The leadership shown by the City, Province, UCT and law enforcement is exemplary.
During a time of disaster, the charitable acts of residents and businesses must be commended as they stand as a testament to our province’s compassion when in crisis. Many donations have been gathered for the firefighting forces, as well as the 4 000 UCT students who were evacuated from their residences on Sunday.
However, this devastating fire has left many questions unanswered. For this reason, we support the call for an independent investigation into circumstances surrounding the disaster.
In addition, as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Local Government, I will be putting forward parliamentary questions regarding fire prevention and the maintenance of firebreaks, especially those in high-risk areas. These firebreaks are crucial in prevention and control of fires.
As we enter three days since the start of the fire, the damage that has been caused is now very much tangible. Eleven buildings have been damaged or destroyed in which seven of them belong to UCT. The most notable victim was that of the J.W. Jagger Library, which housed special collections that are well over a hundred years old. If it were not for the fire-proof roller doors that housed the more priceless antiquities, then the loss would have been much greater. Other landmarks like the Mostert Mill and the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant were also destroyed.
The DA in the Western Cape will continue to exercise oversight in the best interests of residents’ safety.
21 April 2021: SANParks praises bravery of firefighters in Cape Town fire
The South African National Parks (SANParks) has praised the bravery and dedication of firefighters in their efforts to contain the fire that caused massive destruction after it started in the Table Mountain National Park on Sunday.
Those involved in containing the fire included the volunteers, City of Cape Town (CoCT) Fire, Rescue Services and Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) rangers, amongst others.
“The devastating fires across the TMNP have brought home the value of partnerships and working together as a community to manage this National Park we all love.
“Without the collective efforts of the 125 TMNP rangers, the 170 fire and rescue workers, the South African National Defence Force, CoCT personnel, law enforcement and the many volunteers, the damage, as devastating as it was, could have been much worse,” said SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mketeni said the immediacy of the reactions of fire-fighting teams from all areas of the Western Cape, their skill, courage and commitment ensured that the fire was mostly contained by Monday afternoon.
The Rhodes Memorial Fire was reported at 9am on Sunday morning.
The TMNP/ contract wildfire crews (NCC Wildfire) from the Newlands Firebase were dispatched immediately.
TMNP Fire Manager, Philip Prins, co-ordinated the firefighters on the line from TMNP, NCC Wildfires, Working on Fire, CoCT Fire and Rescue Services and Volunteer Wildfire Services.
TMNP and the CoCT had four helicopters operating in the area. The SA Air Force also made available two helicopters to assist with the fire.
“We also thank our 120 rangers who manage and protect this vast area of more than 28,000 hectares, recognising the many challenges they face.
“To manage an urban park stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point, we rely heavily on our communities to assist, alert and raise the alarm on disasters like this, which is exactly what happened on Sunday morning,” Mketeni said.
SANParks also commended the generosity shown by the community of Cape Town to those firefighters and also to those most affected by the fire, most notably the 4 000 University of Cape Town students who had to be evacuated from their residences.
“The outpouring of support on an emotional level was matched if not surpassed by the generosity of donations of food, water and other necessities from businesses and communities,” Mketeni said.
SANParks estimates that the fire has destroyed 600 hectares of land in the TMNP thus far.
An independent investigation is being carried out on the causes and the origin of the fire.
SANParks will facilitate a platform for a series of discussions on the complex topic of managing fire in the park. – SAnews.gov.za
Cape Town Lens: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – Kaapstad