Eastern Cape's Botha Sigcau building gutted in blaze

The OR Tambo District Municipality has confirmed that a fire that ripped through the Botha Sigcau building completely destroyed the 11-storey structure. 

The building in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape was engulfed by a fire on Tuesday night. The building is home to several government entities. 

In a statement, the municipality said King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality Fire Services and local emergency personnel rushed to the building late on Tuesday.

"Firefighters worked relentlessly, pushing back against the blaze to prevent it from reaching nearby parking areas filled with vehicles, an imminent threat that could have multiplied the scale of destruction," the municipality said.

No fatalities were reported and one emergency responder was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

"The incident has been formally classified as a local disaster, with ongoing assessments underway to determine the full extent of the damage and its broader implications," the statement read.

The municipality said the cause of the fire is unknown and will be the subject of a full forensic investigation.

The United Democratic Movement said the building will be remembered by many South Africans as a site where crucial decisions were taken to repurpose and reshape the country's future.

The building is named after Botha Sigcau and has served the people for decades.

"It housed successful administrations, including leaders such as Kaiser Daliwonga Matanzima, Chief George Matanzima, Princess Stella Sigcau, and me. Within its walls, critical government departments' operations, including Military Council Offices, Justice, Police, Intelligence, Defence, and Foreign Affairs, delivering essential services to countless communities," said the party's Bantu Holomisa.

IOL