UCT assessing the extent of damage, ready to resume academic programme ecr.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ecr.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
2 hours ago
CAPE TOWN – Exactly one week since the inferno raged through its premises, the University of Cape Town (UCT) has appealed for more financial aid in the wake of the fire that s caused devastation to several buildings at the campus.
The fire, that began on the slopes of Table Mountain last Sunday, gutted the Jagger Reading Room, two student residences, and other buildings.
Donations in money and kind have poured in, in the wake of the disaster.
The university’s Elijah Moholola has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and added that monetary donations are still welcome as a long road of restoration awaits.
[PHOTOS] Jaw-dropping aerial views of Table Mountain and UCT fire damage The Hues Corporation Rock the Boat Karyn White Secret Rendezvous TAMIA OFICIALLY MISSING YOU
SANParks blamed by groups for ignoring mountain vagrant fires over the years
By Shakirah Thebus
Share
Cape Town - Mountain-user groups have pointed a finger at SA National Parks (SANParks) for allowing vagrants to start fires that eventually led to the latest Table Mountain blaze, despite numerous reports about vagrant fires over the years.
Table Mountain Watch (TMW), a collective of concerned residents, said SANParks had been repeatedly warned of the threat posed by these fires, coupled with the mismanagement of vegetation.
TMW head André Van Schalkwyk said: “As park users, we have alerted SANParks to locations, incidents, evidence of where indigent people camp in the park – on countless occasions and over many, many years. It makes no sense to conveniently blame vagrants when, as a state-owned enterprise, they’ve done very little to address the problem.”
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Apr 21 2021 (IPS) - Cape Town-based photojournalist Yazeed Kamaldien reported on a massive mountain fire that broke out on Sunday on Table Mountain and near residential areas on its foothills. By this morning, Wednesday 21 April, officials said the fire had been extinguished after three grueling days for firefighters. Firefighters are still monitoring on the ground for any flare-ups.
South African National Parks, which manages the Table Mountain area, estimates that the fire destroyed 600 hectares of land. A total 135 firefighters were dispatched along with 125 mountain rangers and an additional 170 fire and rescue workers.
While there were no deaths in the blaze, at least 4,000 students from the University of Cape Town were evacuated from their university residences. Locals have been assisting students with meals and other necessities.