The Makro store that burnt down in Strubens Valley, Roodepoort, on Thursday will be rebuilt, parent company Massmart said.
Massmart CEO Mark Lamberti said the fire, which began shortly before 2pm, started in the receiving area of the liquor department, where construction work was under way as part of an expansion project. The store was Johannesburg’s newest Makro, opened in 2003.
”The management team at the store responded immediately, implementing emergency procedures,” Lamberti added in a statement issued from the scene.
”All customers and staff have been safely evacuated and a full investigation is under way. We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to our customers, local residents and staff and would like to thank the emergency services for their superb support and professionalism.”
The Makro store at Strubens Valley covered 13 000 square metres and held stock worth approximately R65-million. The store was fully insured both for the building itself and stock contained within.
In May 2001, a Makro store in Woodmead, Sandton, was also destroyed by a fire. In that instance, the store was completely rebuilt and reopened within five months.
Makro staff were told to go home shortly after 3pm and asked to report back on Monday at 9am.
Only the store’s own firefighters and occupational health and safety representatives were asked to report on Friday.
Emergency services public information officer Adele Jerling said one person was slightly injured.
Many staff, who were prohibited from speaking to the media, lost personal effects in the blaze.
In the background, thick black smoke, which police on the scene said was toxic, billowed out of the crippled building that was alight from end to end.
Fire engines sprayed water on to flames licking the air from a corner.
The front facade of the building was leaning drunkenly inwards and bright orange flames could be seen raging inside the building through broken windows.
Spectators, many with expensive digital cameras and video equipment, were gathered on prominent points overlooking the sight at the intersection of Hendrik Potgieter and Christiaan de Wet roads.
Because of the smoke, police and metro officials closed off both roads up to a kilometre from the fire, causing massive disruptions in the traffic flow.
A Johannesburg city councillor cautioned on Thursday that he was concerned that the city’s emergency services are unable to cope with events such as the Makro fire.
Councillor Rudi du Plooy of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) said after having visited the scene: ”My concern is whether the City of Johannesburg has the capability to deal with disasters of this magnitude.
”When I was on the scene there was only one fire engine in attendance. Others arrived at varying intervals. By the time the full complement of fire-fighting units had arrived the building was already totally destroyed.”
Du Plooy said that the section along Hendrik Potgieter Road in Roodepoort is earmarked for major business development and that it was his opinion that emergency services will not be able to cope with fires and other catastrophes of this nature.
”The council would indeed have to carefully evaluate the events of today to ensure that Johannesburg can deliver a world-class service. I am concerned that we have such a vast piece of land being developed and that the emergency services are not close enough to deal with the situation,” said Du Plooy.
A Sapa reporter later counted nine fire engines and seven ambulances at the scene.
In May 2001 a Makro store in Woodmead, Johannesburg, not far from the one in Roodepoort, was also destroyed in a fire. — Sapa