One of the seven workshops that burnt down during the suspected arson attack at a farm on Klipheuwel Road, Fisantekraal, on Friday morning August 4. Photo: Facebook.
A donation drive has been launched to help Fisantekraal farmworkers who lost their belongings in a suspected arson attack on their farm.
Durbanville police spokesman Captain Marchell Rhode confirmed that police are investigating an arson case at a farm on Klipheuwel Road, Fisantekraal, on Friday morning August 4.
“As far as I know, it was an arson attack and not a farm attack so an arson docket was opened and being investigated. There are currently no suspects identified nor any arrests at this moment,” he said.
A woman staying on the farm, who did not wanted to be named, said she and her husband had been woken at 3am by a loud banging noise.
“When he walked to the bathroom, I asked if it was raining outside. He then went outside to confirm if it was raining and saw that one of the workshops (about 15 to 20 metres from our house) was on fire. Seven workshops burnt down as well as 27 cars. Some of the cars were being repaired and some were the farmworkers’ cars. One of the chicken coops was also set alight and was destroyed.
“In total, ten men and two women have lost all their belongings through the fire. One of the men, who has a pregnant wife, also lost everything. I have gotten some donations for them. The Durbanville Lions Club also helped, and we have offered the wives trauma counselling in the meantime.“
She said the fire brigade had arrived 45 minutes after they had phoned them.
“The fire brigade were busy extinguishing the fire up until around 8am that morning,” she said.
City Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse said firefighters had received the call-out for a burning workshop at 4am.
“Crews from various fire stations were at the scene, including Brackenfell, Durbanville, Kraaifontein, Atlantis and Milnerton,” he said.
“The fire was extinguished just after 8am and no injuries were reported.”
Northern News was unable to get comment from the fire department on the possible cause of the fire.
The woman said: “During the fire, the farmer’s daughter said that she saw up to three to four people running away in the dark. It was very difficult to see that time in the morning, especially with load-shedding. It was pitch dark.
“When the farmworkers, sleeping inside the workshop, realised that the house was on fire, they were more worried about rescuing each other and their neighbours than finding the arsonists.”
One of the victims of the fire was a pensioner who had lost most of his belongings, she said.
The owners of the farm declined to comment.
The woman said there was a great need for donations of food as well as underwear for adults and children.
An appeal for support has been posted on the Durbanville Community Police Forum’s Facebook page.
For more information or to make a contribution, contact Danielle Cronje, a coordinator with the Durbanville Victim Empowerment Programme, at 083 992 9411.