News24 reports that a fire broke out at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) building in Germiston on Tuesday, allegedly after someone hurled a petrol bomb at the structure, causing the roof to collapse.

Protesting Pharoe Park residents who had been evicted from a nearby block of flats earlier were seen walking back to the flats from the building. Two people have since been arrested. City of Ekurhuleni disaster and emergency services spokesperson William Mogale Ntladi said preliminary information showed that petrol bombs were thrown at the DHA building. Ntladi said the top section of the two-storey building had been on fire and the roof collapsed while he was on the scene. Firefighters were called in to douse the flames. There was also possible damage on the pivotal first floor, where important documents were stored. While there have been no reported injuries, several surrounding buildings were evacuated and cordoned off for safety and operational reasons.

DHA provincial manager Mamokubung Moroke said the offices would be closed. “We are aware that clients have been here since the morning to collect documents and make applications, but we do not have access to the building. We are still going to make an assessment on the extent of the damage, but at this point we don’t have much information,” he indicated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rosetta Msimango and view a video clip at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)

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