PAARL – Police have confirmed that a 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged with arson in connection with the fire at Paarl Provincial Hospital on Tuesday morning.
According to Western Cape Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala, the suspect was apprehended after investigators identified him as a person of interest following the blaze.
He is expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on arson-related charges.
The fire broke out at about 11:17 on Tuesday, with emergency services quickly responding to contain the blaze.
READ: Fire breaks out at Paarl Hospital, wards evacuated
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed the incident, stating that only a small section of the hospital was affected.
“The fire was quickly contained, and we would like to thank hospital staff, the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services, the South African Police Service and local law enforcement for their swift and professional response,” the department said in a statement.
Initial reports indicate that a vehicle parked next to the building caught fire and the blaze spread to the structure.
The exact cause is still under investigation and will be confirmed once enquiries are completed.
Photo: Rasaad Adams
As a safety precaution, the affected area and its immediate surroundings were evacuated. Patients impacted by the evacuation were safely moved to other parts of the facility or to nearby hospitals.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
The Outpatient Department sustained significant damage in the blaze, and maternity patients were relocated to other healthcare facilities to ensure continuity of care.
Eyewitnesses Diorene Adams and her daughter, Bruniël, said they were in the parking area when they saw a suspicious man with dreadlocks near the vicinity.
Adams said the man at one point dug through a waste container.
“A few moments later that exact container went up in flames,” she said.
“My daughter and I were screaming frantically, and that is when I saw him run out of the parking area. I chased after him but he disappeared, and that is when I alerted security.”
When hospital security arrived with a fire extinguisher, the fire had already spread to three vehicles parked close to the building, which then contributed to flames reaching the outpatient wing.
It is understood that CCTV footage and Adams’ statement helped lead to the suspect’s arrest.
An ongoing assessment is underway to determine the full extent of the damage.
Hospital officials say that the Emergency Room (ER) has since reopened and clinical areas are being restored in phases.
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