Overview
- The fire that swept through the 11-storey Botha Sigcau building Tuesday night was contained within hours, and no serious injuries were reported.
- The Hawks confirmed an investigation into the cause, and technical teams plan to start inspections once the site is safe, expected as early as Friday.
- The building housed the deeds office and Transkei-era archives, raising fears of record loss, though officials say they must first gain access to verify damage.
- Officials had flagged the tower as unsafe in 2025, even after R107 million in phased repairs and an evacuation to remote work, drawing DA criticism and a rebuttal from the Public Works MEC.
- Residents now face service delays as departments arrange temporary sites, and the premier urged stronger digital backups to protect records in future.