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Shelley Point Hotel was ushered into the New Year with a deadly blaze that broke in the early hours of Tuesday, in Western Cape.
According to Saldanha Bay municipality executive mayor André Truter, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a flame from the kitchen that was discovered by staff unlocking for the day.
“I can now confidently say that the fire is under control, they fought it bravely. I salute all the firefighters, there is massive damage. There were about 160 guests in the hotel and 120 staff, and everyone was evacuated."
Fire: Shelly Point Hotel -St Helena Bay. pic.twitter.com/RQrUjjsBF4
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 2, 2024
Truter added that they would have not been able to contain the fire if it were not for the helicopters that assisted.
Meanwhile, Shelley Point Hotel apologised for the inconvenience caused by the fire:
Western Cape disaster management assisted by dispatching a spotter plane and two helicopters. Truter and Saldanha municipal manager Heinrich Mettler along with MMC Michael Schaffers have been on site.
The surrounding communities assisted the firefighters by supplying water and sandwiches to the crews.
“My sincere thanks to the executive mayors of Swartland, Harold Cleophas, and Bergrivier municipality's Ray van Rooy and West Coast District Municipality's Boffie Strydom.
"Finally, my special thanks to Schalk and Colin from Western Cape disaster management and the minister of environmental affairs and development planning, Anton Bredell, for their continued support!”
More footage of the fire at Shelley Point Hotel, Shelley Point, St Helena Bay, Western Cape, South Africa ???? | 2 January 2023 | #fire #ShellyPointHotel #SouthAfricapic.twitter.com/r1vWkU63je
— Disaster Tracker (@DisasterTrackHQ) January 2, 2024
Truter further said that the mopping up and cooling down will probably still take another day or two.
