At least four hawkers at the Town Centre Mall in Mitchells Plain have lost their merchandise and wooden structures in a devastating fire on Thursday.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene just after 1am on Thursday where they found about four stalls on fire.
While the cause of the blaze is undetermined, stall owners say it may be arson.
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, says an emergency call was received at 1.02am of a shop alight.
“When the fire crews arrived it was in fact the informal structures used as ‘stalletjies’, approximately three and four, that were burning and not Pep Stores,” he explains.
“One adult male sustained slight burn wounds to his back but refused to be taken to hospital.
“The only damage to the shop itself was that the Pep signage and shop front windows got damaged as a result of the radiated heat.
“The fire was extinguished at 2.12am.”
Stall owner, Amiena Jones who sells school and children’s clothing, says she believes the fire may have been started by someone.
“I was fortunate that my goods were stored at a venue where I keep it daily,” she says.
“Some of the other stall owners fruit and vegetables were destroyed in the fire.
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“The people who sleep here in the Town Centre also do not know what happened.
“I think this may be arson because how did this fire start? This is a great loss to stall owners here.”
Vendors have been complaining about an increase in crime, including drug dealing, which they say are keeping customers away.