Fires rage across parts of South Africa. (SABC)
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Guests at the Mattafin Hill Lodge near Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit had to cut their stay short after a veld fire broke out last night. Owners of the lodge were forced to evacuate their clients as the blaze raged out of control.
The fire posed a threat to property and guests had to be evacuated. Fire fighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire. Owners of the lodge remain in the dark on what might have caused the fire. Lodge owner William Brantel said: “We had to evacuate all guests to another lodge so that’s loss of income, obviously and the clean up operation will be costly”.
The extent of the damage is however not yet known.
Last month, provincial government authorities warned that Mpumalanga is sitting on a high fire index. People are urged to be extremely cautious and make sure that they do not start fires in the open veld.
In Durban, eThekwini Metro Police suspect arson as the cause of a fire that has partially destroyed Phexulu Lodge in Umgeni Road. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated.
Metro Police spokesperson Sbonelo Mchunu says illegal tenants allegedly set the building alight when the landlord tried to evict them. More than 500 people were occupying the building illegally.
Police have also said that say the lodge was mainly occupied by illegal foreigners.
