Police are investigating a case of arson after a fire raged through a four-storey block of flats in central Pretoria on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Inspector Paul Ramaloko said the cause of the fire at Kinnoulle Mansions on Prinsloo Street was unknown and a case of arson would be investigated.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Johan Pieterse said the fire started in flat number 54 before 1pm and spread quickly, engulfing seven others.
Pieterse estimated that damage caused by the fire could run into millions.
Sixty people were evacuated from the building by emergency workers and no injuries were reported, he said.
The fire had been put out after about two hours on Tuesday afternoon.
It had spread on to the roof of the building from the east to the west side.
Emergency workers had five vehicles on the scene, with firefighters inside the building trying to contain the fire.
Metro police closed surrounding streets from Visagie Street to beyond Minnaar Street, said spokesperson Louise Brits.
She said traffic going out of Pretoria towards Johannesburg would be affected and advised motorists to use Andries and Nelson Mandela Streets as alternative routes.
”Traffic will be affected but metro police will be there to assist,” she said. — Sapa