South Africa: Fatal fire: arson suspected

Original Post Date: 2010-02-25 Time: 07:00:02  Posted By: News Poster

By Nompumelelo Magwaza

Police are again combing a Newcastle orphanage – which caught fire three weeks ago, killing 11 people – for a 12th body.

And police said yesterday that arson had not been ruled out.

Nine people survived the fire at the Hope in Christ Centre at Ingogo, Newcastle.

Among those who died was Sarah Holland, who ran the centre, her son. Nicholas Pienaar, and his three children.

Holland’s relatives said police had stopped them from demolishing the gutted building, saying they had been told to search for a body.

Her brother, Arthur Nolte, said it was thought police were searching for the body of a girl.
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Police vehicles were seen at the orphanage on Tuesday, a neighbour said.

Police were mum on why the search had resumed, but Police Director Phindile Radebe said a forensic team was investigating arson and would release a report soon.

Nolte said the family wanted to get to the bottom of the incident so that they could move on with their lives.

The survivors have been placed in various facilities in the area with one still in hospital with a lung infection.

Richard Kohler, of Bridge Church, who has taken in some of the survivors, said the children were doing well and one had been placed with a Newcastle family.