Late Saturday night (21 December), the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court became the target of an apparent arson attack, leaving parts of the building damaged and raising concerns about safety and community unrest in the area.
According to a social media post by Councillor Angus McKenzie, sub-council chair for the area, it is speculated that local community members, who were reportedly stoning vehicles near the court, might be responsible for the fire. The motive behind the incident remains unclear.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services, reported that the call regarding the fire was received at 21:10. Due to safety concerns, the fire crew from Epping had to wait at the Elsies River police station for an enforcement escort before proceeding to the site.
“On arrival, they found that the door of the Bishop Lavis Court building was burning. It appeared that tyres had been set alight in close proximity,” Carelse explained.
The damage extended beyond the fire. The security booth had been vandalized, the security door was broken down, and several windows were shattered. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 22:10 and utilized a Positive Pressure Ventilator (PPV) to clear the smoke from the building.A case of arson has been registered, and authorities are investigating the incident. No injuries were reported, but the extent of the damage to the building is being assessed.
