The owner of a popular Grahamstown drinking spot is counting his losses after it was badly damaged by fire in the early hours of Monday 5 January.
The owner of a popular Grahamstown drinking spot is counting his losses after it was badly damaged by fire in the early hours of Monday 5 January.
Sakhiwo Rala said his security company called him at 3am on Monday to say the alarm had gone off at his Joza tavern, Kwa 5.
They said they had dispatched a response team to investigate a possible break-in.
"When they arrived they saw lots of smoke and the tavern was on fire," said Rala. He said the Ncame Street tavern would be closed for three weeks for a clean-up and refurbishment.
Rala said he was still assessing the costs of the damage.
"I am still waiting for the investigation from the police and the fire department, so I won't speculate about the cause of the fire," he said. He said he had lost a considerable amount of stock, as well as business assets. He declined to name the value of his losses, however.
A total of six refrigerators were damaged – three of them completely destroyed.
A CCTV camera was also, burnt, along with three television sets.
Station Commander at Makana Fire Department Vuyokazi Sam said they had received a call at 03.12am from Hi Tec security company.
He said when the fire fighters arrived at 03.21am, the building was engulfed in flames.
"The store room and the bar area were worst affected," Sam said. "By 03.31am we were in control of the flames."
Sam said the station had handed over the investigation into the cause of the fire to the police.
