DA requests SAPS Organised Crime Unit to investigate North West fires

18 September 2023

The DA in North West has today written to the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, requesting that he allocate a Task Team to investigate ongoing fires targeting critical infrastructure in the province.

This request follows an earlier view by the DA that the ongoing fires in the province indicate possible signs of economic sabotage.  

A fire gutted the Pilanesberg Airport last month. This weekend, a fire gutted the Manyane Resort.

The DA expects the task team to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the fires throughout the province and make specific reference to the Mmabatho Palms, Pilanesberg Airport, Christiana Clinic, the Manyane Resort, and the offices of the Department of Social Development.

The Manyane Resort fire strengthens our suspicion of economic sabotage.  

Over the last two years there have been several incidents of unexplained fires targeting critical infrastructure.

The Police Task Team must investigate each of these fires and produce a comprehensive report. Individuals identified, either through negligence or deliberate economic sabotage must be charged and prosecuted.

These fires have destroyed critical infrastructure and resulted in the loss of millions of rands which the North West Provincial Government is unable to rebuild.  

Issued by Freddy Sonakile, DA Spokesperson on Community Safety and Transport Management in North West, 18 September 2023