Durban - Police are investigating a case of arson in the fire that nearly burnt down the Ultra City garage at the Umvoti tollgate on the N2 northbound on Sunday.
Sources at the scene alleged that there was an illegal operation going on before the fire started, in which fuel was being stolen.
Two petrol tankers carrying a combined load of 84 000 litres of petrol and diesel were parked behind the Steers outlet at the garage rest stop when the fire started. The blaze overwhelmed both trucks and almost burnt down the garage. Another smaller truck carrying skid tanks, which was parked between the two trucks, was also burnt.
KwaDukuza fire chief Nonhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who led the fire team that risked their lives to contain the fire and moved gas cylinders that could have caused a bigger explosion away from the fire, said they were aware of the allegations of fuel theft.
“We are still going to convene today and view the footage from the scene to determine what happened,” Mkhwanazi said.
Police spokesman Thulani Zwane did not comment directly on the allegations that fuel theft was the cause of the fire, but said: “No arrest and we are investigating an arson case.”
However, sources insist that fuel theft was the real reason for the fire.
“The police suspect that someone was trying to move diesel and petrol from the trucks,” said a source.
Another said many things about the fire did not add up.
“The drivers only showed up after the fire was out; they said they were afraid and had run away when the fire started,” said a source.
“One of them said he had been burnt on the arm and we took him to an ambulance for assistance.
“Our question was: Why did they run away if it was just an accident, not their fault?” said the source.
“Another thing is the way the trucks were positioned. There were two fuel tankers and, in-between, a smaller truck carrying skid tanks.”
The source said this was suspicious.
Dineo Pooe, a spokeswoman for Shell South Africa, said they had heard similar (fuel theft) allegations.
“At this point it’s still allegations and speculation. We cannot comment on that.”
The Mercury