WATCH: Fire guts historic Botha Sigcawu Building

By Thapelo Molefe

A fire tore through the historic 11-storey Botha Sigcau Building in central Mthatha on Tuesday night, disrupting government services and prompting an urgent damage assessment by Eastern Cape authorities on Wednesday.

The blaze broke out at about 7pm on Tuesday at the government complex situated between Leeds and York roads. Emergency services responded, and firefighters remained on site on Wednesday, attending to flare-ups after most parts of the building were destroyed.

Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works, Infrastructure and Human Settlements Siphokazi Lusithi said government was “deeply concerned” about the incident and confirmed that officials from her department were assessing the situation.

The building houses several government departments, including transport, social development and health, among others.

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