Whilst initial reports indicated that the fire broke out and was concentrated in the health facility’s kitchen, the North West Health Department says on its official social media accounts that for now, it appears the entire hospital is, in fact, affected. According to the department, firefighters are on the ground attempting to put out the fire completely. In the meantime, patients have been evacuated and no injuries have been reported. The department says plans are afoot to transport said patients to nearby facilities. The health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, will be visiting the facility at 13:00.

Elsewhere in the North West, mop-up operations at the Mmabatho Palms Hotel, Casino, and Conference facility in Mahikeng are underway after the first legally registered casino in South Africa was gutted by a fire, also on Wednesday. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. 

Among the guests that had to be evacuated from the premises, was the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, Zoleka Capa. She told eNCA, whilst at the scene, that there was no alarm or warning when the fire broke out and as a result guests had to “self-evacuate”. 

The Peermont Hotel Group's spokesperson, Nikki Evans, says the group’s management is on its way to Mahikeng to ascertain the damage caused by the blaze.

The fire is not known to have spread to other areas with residents of the nearby Leopard Park Gold Estate telling OFM News they were unaware of the incident until they left for work in the morning, meaning the blaze did not spread to the nearby estate. The extent of damage incurred is unknown at this stage. 

In 2017, the resort underwent an R8 million upgrade to its conference room and the casino area. The upgrades also included the opening of the ‘Moo Bar’, which was meant to appeal to a younger crowd in the North West capital.

OFM News