[imagesource: Facebook / Mmabatho Palms Hotel Casino and Convention Resort]
Everything was business as usual at the iconic Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng, North West, until the whole place went up in flames in the early hours of this morning (September 8).
The Citizen reports that the four-star hotel has a 44-year-old casino on the premises, which is said to be South Africa’s oldest casino.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed the fire via News24, saying that police and firefighters were on location to try and quell the flames.
The hotel and casino, owned by Peermont Resorts, is right next door to the Leopard Park golf course.
BREAKING NEWS- Mmabatho Palms Hotel, one of the oldest in Mahikeng, on fire. The cause of fire still unknown. There are reports that the fire started around 2am. #MmabathoPalmsFire
VIDEO SUPPLIED [WATCH] pic.twitter.com/ESOpko6ArN
— Newsnote (@NewsnoteNetwork) September 8, 2021
The fire is now under control and no injuries have yet been reported:
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Zoleka Capa was apparently one of the guests in the hotel at the time that the blaze began.
She told eNCA that she was in the hotel when she awoke around 1AM to heavy smoke, which caused her to run outside screaming to wake up other guests:
She said she assisted other guests to escape the hotel amidst the chaos. She added that there were no hotel staff directing any guests to a safe assembly zone, and criticised the lack of evacuation protocols and alarms.
It is also being reported that some guests are still stuck in their rooms.
Here’s more footage to show the extent of the fire:
Mmabatho Palms burning pic.twitter.com/Fnu0YmMVu0
— MaV (@MaV35430030) September 8, 2021
MMABATHO PALMS BURNING DOWN.#NORTHWESTIMES#PEOPLEMUSTKNOW pic.twitter.com/rpuRrXXy9L
— NORTH WEST TIMES (@NorthWesTimes) September 8, 2021
Watch this video from the 1:10 mark to see footage of the flames raging from inside:
This video shows the aftermath, with most of the top of the hotel ravaged, bar a few palm trees, the pool, and the main walls:
A fire broke out at the Mmabatho Palms hotel in Mahikeng, North West, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage. Video: Supplied pic.twitter.com/VkzrmJyxDF
— Sowetan LIVE (@SowetanLIVE) September 8, 2021
Most details, like the cause of the fire, are still unknown, according to Mokgwabone.
The story is still developing and new information will be released as it unfolds.
