A fire gutted the historic Botha Sigcau building in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, nearly two days ago. The 11-story structure, a heritage site named after the late Amapondo king, once served as the Transkei government’s headquarters and now houses nine government departments. The Hawks, South Africa’s directorate for priority crimes investigation, have taken over the probe into the cause. This matters now as the fire’s origin remains unknown amid social media speculation, according to Hawks spokesperson Ndiphile Mhlakuvana.
The Hawks confirmed they are leading the investigation as part of their mandate.
“We’ve taken over the investigation… we are investigating the fire that has burnt the building at Mthatha,” Mhlakuvana said.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. The Hawks have not linked any charges to online rumors. Experienced investigators are on the case.
The Botha Sigcau building stands as an 11-story landmark in Mthatha. It honors the late Amapondo king and previously hosted the Transkei government. Nine government departments operate from there.
The blaze struck almost two days ago, on March 24, 2026. Firefighters stay on site to handle any flare-ups.
Reports note the fire stirs memories for the Duli family connected to the building. The Mpondo Royal family mourns the heritage loss.
The fire disrupts operations for the nine departments inside. It also damages a key heritage site.
Hawks dismiss social media claims for lack of evidence.
“At the moment, we are not really sure… we’ve not yet attached charges,” Mhlakuvana stated.
Firefighters’ presence signals ongoing risks at the site. The true cause awaits verified findings.
The Hawks probe continues with their skilled team. Firefighters monitor for new flames.
No timeline or cause details are set yet. A topic timeline tracks related stories for updates.
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