Africa-Press – Eswatini. “They just stood there and watched my business burn.”
This was the assertion of the director of Zhara Waste Management, who was not pleased with the manner the Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (ENFRES) personnel conducted themselves after a fire gutted his company, resulting in damages worth about E800 000. The fire broke out during the windstorm on Friday night. The director of the recycling company, who did not want his name published, purported that the fire incident was an arson attack, whereupon certain people broke into his premises, sprinkled fuel and gutted his property to ashes. He also supposed that the ENFRES personnel attended to the fire incident, but only watched his business burn without extinguishing the fire. He also believes that the extent of the damage would not have been severe had it not been for the alleged sabotage.
Matter
According to the director, upon reporting the matter to the ENFRES personnel, they told him that there was no water in their fire engine. He said by this time, the fire had only affected a small portion of the premises. The director said the fire broke out in their presence and also affected a nearby house. He alleged that the fire had different hotspots within the yard, which were far from each other, which is more reason to believe it was started by people. The director revealed that the recycling machine and truck were doused with petrol. “The fire personnel came at night (on Friday) and then left, only to return yesterday at around 4pm. I’m not well versed on the laws and operations of the organisation, but I have been informed that they do not just leave while a fire is still burning,” the director said.
He said there was more to it than met the eye, because there was also an office which was broken into, which had nothing to do with the fire. The director elaborated that the office kept some important documents and keys belonging to his vehicles. ENFRES Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mandla Dlamini, confirmed that personnel attended to a fire at the recycling company. When asked to comment on the allegations levelled against the organisation, Dlamini said they were still investigating. He further referred this publication to the chief fire officer.
Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati also confirmed that on Friday at 11: 50pm, a warehouse belonging to a recycling company trading as Zhara Waste Management caught fire. Vilakati said property valued at E342 000 was destroyed by the fire at Matsapha Industrial Site. On another incident, the police spokesperson confirmed that a two-roomed house was burnt to ashes by wildfire and property valued at E68 000 was destroyed by the fire at Sihhohhweni.
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