Police must investigate allegations surrounding Cape fires

Allegations that fires in and around Cape Town were purposefully started is very serious and must be investigated by the police to determine if there is any truth to these allegations, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the FF Plus’ leader and chief spokesperson on Police, says.

Dr. Groenewald said the many allegations and eye-witness reports about arson which is currently circulating on social media are strengthening the suspicious circumstances under which approximately twenty fires started simultaneously in Cape Town, the West Coast, and the Cape Winelands.

“An investigation of this nature will be extensive, and the FF Plus, therefore, calls on anyone with information about possible arson, to contact the police.

“The allegations cannot merely be swept off the table. More than a thousand hectares have been destroyed, houses were destroyed, and lives were threatened. Damage, amounting to millions of rand was caused.

“Allegations of political motives, and that people with t-shirts brandishing political party logos were involved have to be investigated.

“The comments of the Western Cape Head of Disaster Management, Mr. Colin Deiner, that there is no proof that a political party was involved in the fires are therefore premature. The police have to investigate all the available information before a sensible finding can be made.

“The FF Plus expresses its sympathy with all persons who have been affected by the fires and suffered damages,” Dr. Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Leader, 20 January 2017