WATCH: Denel arms factory fire lights up the sky
DANGER: Macassar residents want factory relocated after blaze
Residents in and near Macassar reported a massive ball of fire in the sky on Sunday night after a fire broke out at arms factory Denel.
People now say they want the company gone as it’s becoming a danger to them following an incident in 2018 in which eight workers were killed.
According to residents of Deep Freeze informal settlement, located near the main gate of Rheinmetall Denel Munitions (RDM), the sky lit up between 10.30pm and 11pm on Sunday.
A male resident said: “There was moerse big flame that just shot up into the sky but we did not hear any explosions or stuff going off.
“We could see some of the trees on the other side on fire and the people were running around to put the fire out.”
DANGER: Macassar residents want factory relocated after blaze. Video supplied
According to Denel chairman Jan-Patrick Helmsen, the fire broke out at the building housing their N86 (assault rifle) magazines.
“At approximately 11pm (on Sunday night) a fire broke out at a building at our Somerset West site.
“The fire was contained to a specific magazine building and was extinguished by our internal fire department at RDM and the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue service who reacted in line with all of our safety protocols.”
No injuries or fatalities were reported, and Helmsman said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
In 2018, a fire at Denel claimed the lives of eight employees after gun chemicals exploded.
Ward 109 councillor candidate Peter Helfrich (DA) said Macassar residents called him on Sunday night after hearing the blast.
“Many residents feel it is no longer safe for Denel to be based in Macassar and have asked that we find a way to get RDM to move their plant out of the Macassar area.
“Having a facility like this next to a residential area is extremely dangerous. It is not acceptable for residents to have to live in fear like this all the time,” said Helfrich.