Risana home destroyed by fire

The fire was so high up in the sky you could see the smoke from Alberton City.

February 5, 2016

James Mahlokwane 1 minute read

RISANA residents were shocked to see a 43-year-old family home gutted by an inferno that was so high up in the sky it could be seen from Alberton City on Monday, February 1, around 13:30.

DA ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame said she spoke to the elderly owner of the house, Paul Soo, who said robbers gained entry through the back of the property but a neighbour saw them and called for backup, but by then the house had already started burning and the suspects fled the scene, leaving the neighbours crying arson.

According to Captain Joseph Makhubela from Moffatview SAPS, the owners of the house did not open a case with the police, however he has heard stories about a vagrant man who tried to steal from a house and it was dark so he lit something which caught fire and as a result the house burnt down. “The owner of the property can open a case with the police for investigation. The police cannot rely on things people say in the streets and we encourage Mr Soo to open a case if all these allegations could be true so that we can investigate,” Makhubela said.

“I was alerted by some neighbours that a lot of vagrants have settled in the koppie behind the properties in Risana and this was not the first time they attempted to break into Mr Soo’s property. SAPS and JMPD will have to conduct more regular raids on the koppie behind most of these homes to make residents feel safe and protected,” Clr Faeeza said.