E350?000 cash burnt to ashes at Bishop Courts flats

By Delisa Magagula

A fire erupted late Saturday evening in the third-floor block of the Bishop Courts flats in Manzini, claiming three apartments and rendering sixteen residents homeless including a baby.

Among the losses a family residing in one of the flats reportedly lost E350,000 in cash, which they had been saving and was kept in the unit.

Reliable source shared that, the money was sourced from their day-to-day revenue since they run multiple Celltronics shops around Manzini, even outside of Manzini.

The money in cash estimated to be E350,000 was inside the burning apartments stored in bags and money bags.

According to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), the blaze started around 8:15?p.m. in one flat where a compressor of an air-conditioning unit failed, sparking a fire that rapidly spread to the adjacent units.

Speaking on the scene, after responding promptly Eswatini National Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (ENFRES) Communications Officer Mandla Dlamini said, the fire had too much power and a risk of spreading further.

“We believe the compressor overheated, igniting nearby furniture and bedding. Sixteen people were affected in total. Thankfully, nobody was injured,” said Dlamini.

The shop-owner, a Pakistani national whose name was withheld by neighbours, had chosen to take home his weekly cash takings to bank them the next morning.

That stack of banknotes was charred and reduced to ash stood as a grim symbol of both the fire’s speed and the scale of his loss.

Neighbours said he sat outside the building in shock, periodically glancing at the scorched doorway of his former home.

Resident?Thandeka?Dlamini, who lives two doors down from the burnt unit, recalled they heard a noise like a crack and then huge smoke pouring from the balcony.

“I ran, grabbed my baby, our neighbours grabbed their little girl everyone was shouting to get out. Within minutes we were all outside, watching the unit burn,” said Dlamini speaking to this publication.

Another tenant, Musa?Vilakati, echoed Thandeka’s sentiments and said survival was the only thing on their minds.

“You don’t think about money when you’re running for your life. But when the fire died down, and we saw what was destroyed beds, wardrobes, stoves, TVs and heard about the E350,000, life can change so fast,” he said.

Building management estimated damage to furniture and appliances in the three impacted flats at around E300,000.

The destruction of the apartments meant walls, carpets, wiring, fixtures and household contents were a total loss.

“We contained the fire to the three units. All the affected persons were evacuated safely. Still, we will examine the air-conditioner unit, wiring, and whether any negligence or maintenance lapse contributed to the blaze,” said Dlamini.

Meanwhile, the building’s landlord has since arranged temporary accommodation for the 16 displaced residents, coordinating with church and community groups for emergency meals, clothing, and medical support.

This fire incident echoes earlier major fires in Manzini. In July?2024 a blaze destroyed part of Bhunu Mall, affecting multiple businesses and causing losses in the millions.

Investigators then flagged ageing wiring and overloaded appliances in high-density structures as key risk factors. While the exact cause of the current fire is under investigation, the compressor-failure claim and rapid spread raise similar alarms.

Meanwhile among those affected was the baby from one of the apartments, who together with the other tenants women, men, and children spent the night at different places of abode.

Dlamini further noted that no one slept well. Many were crying, some lost passports, phones, savings everything.

He said, they were torn and heartbroken for everyone involved especially for the man who lost E350,000, as it wasn’t just money but his entire business buffer.

A building management representative said they would conduct a full electrical audit of all units in the block, focusing on air-conditioning compressors, wiring and power surge protection.

“We are inspecting every unit. This cannot happen again,” said the representative.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Police Communications Information Officer Inspector?Nosipho?Mnguni advised residents of similar buildings to ensure appliances are properly maintained, wiring is certified, and smoke alarms are functioning.