Local drug users 'blamed' for arson attack

AN ALLEGED arson attack at the Ihata Shelter for abused women and children in Welcome Estate caused damage estimated at over R50 000 in the early hours of Saturday morning.

- MARSHA DEAN

It is believed the fire was premeditated, as the shelter’s gate remote motor was stolen on Tuesday during a burglary.

Chief Operations Officer Nuraan Osman said the fire destroyed essential items including ten computers to the value of R4 000 each that was about to be set up for their youth development programme. A food trailer valued at R25 000, used for training clients in the shelter’s sustainability kitchen, was also lost.

Beds with mattresses to the value of R8 000 and wooden structures to the value of R14 000 and many other items were lost in the fire.

“Because the gate motor was stolen, we secured the gate with a padlock, but the thieves forced entry,” Osman said.