Mthatha’s Botha Sigcau building fire: Is sabotage to blame?

Sabotage is suspected to be behind the fire that destroyed the 11-storey Botha Sigcau building in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday night.

This is according to the SA National Civic Organisation, which called an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning after the building — which housed health, education, social development, transport, and police officials, among others — went up in flames.

“This act is tantamount to service delivery sabotage, particularly in the eastern part of our province, where communities heavily rely on these services,” said secretary Tony Duba.

“The timing is highly suspicious, occurring as the province prepares for local government elections, intensifies its service delivery programmes, and approaches financial year-end,” he said.

The fire broke out at the corner of Owen Street and Leeds Street at about 6pm on Tuesday.

No one was injured.

Videos of the fire spread like wildfire on social media.

King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality said its fire department, backed by OR Tambo District Municipality and Mthatha Airport fire services, responded to the scene.

The exact cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza told IOL mayor Nyaniso Nelani and the full municipal council were “shocked and saddened” about the incident.

Mampoza said the municipality was very well aware of “the significant disruption to essential services and the loss of a key provincial landmark”.

He also said the building was “completely destroyed”.

Public works and human settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi said: ““The building accommodates a number of government departments, and the public works and infrastructure department will urgently engage affected departments to ensure business continuity and minimise any disruption to service delivery.

“Further details regarding temporary arrangements will be communicated as soon as they become available,” she said.

The building had made headlines before.

Lusithi’s department had previously failed to pay its electricity bill, leaving workers locked out and services to the public at a standstill.

It was named after Botha Manzolwandle Sigcawu, the first president of the Transkei Bantustan.

The building also carries heavy political history as it was the site of an attempted coup led by former Transkei Defence Force General Bantu Holomisa.

Holomisa said: “Dating back to 1975, the Botha Sigcau building served the people of the Transkei region for decades.

“It housed successive administrations, including leaders such as Kaiser Daliwonga Matanzima, Chief George Matanzima, Princess Stella Sigcau, and myself.

“Within its walls, critical government departments operated, including military council offices, justice, police, intelligence, defence, and foreign affairs, delivering essential services to countless communities.

“It is in this very building that, upon my assumption of leadership in 1987, we received many delegations from across the world.

“Many coming from SA were fleeing the scourge of so called black on black violence, which was instigated and sponsored by the apartheid regime in Pretoria.

“The building became a place of refuge, dialogue, and political engagement, where leaders of various movements and representatives of the SA Council of Churches gathered in pursuit of peace and unity.”

Duba said the fire was a disaster waiting to happen as the building had been neglected for far too long.

“It is deeply concerning the building was reportedly in a state of neglect prior to the fire,” he said.

“The lack of regular inspections and upkeep creates hazardous conditions, placing both public servants and citizens at risk.

“The state of this building reflects broader systemic challenges within government, where essential infrastructure maintenance is often neglected,” he said.

Duba said the destruction of the building would be felt hardest by ordinary people, as the departments it housed were central to service delivery in Mthatha.

Their loss, he said, would disrupt access to healthcare, education, and social support.

He said Sanco was not going to let the matter rest. 

The organisation called on premier Oscar Mabuyane to urgently intervene, institute a full and transparent investigation, and make the findings public.

“We do not believe this is a coincidence,” Duba said.

“We reject any notion of coincidence.

“The timing is highly suspicious, occurring as the province prepares for local government elections, intensifies its service delivery programmes, and approaches the financial year-end — a period of heightened accountability under the Auditor-General.”

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