Pietermaritzburg - A case of arson is being investigated after the Richmond municipal manager's office was burnt down early Monday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
“It is reported that... the Richmond municipal manager's office and memorial hall were set alight by unknown suspects,” Major Thulani Zwane said.
Two petrol bombs were found on the scene, near Pietermaritzburg.
No one had been arrested by 3pm on Monday and the motive was not known.
KwaZulu-Natal co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube condemned the burning of the municipal offices.
“Burning down municipal properties is nothing but a futile effort to tarnish (the) otherwise improving image of this municipality,” she said in a statement.
“Harsh actions must be taken against the perpetrators of this unfortunate incident.”
The African National Congress in the province called on the police to intensively investigate the crime.
“The ANC condemns this act of cowardice and we call on the police to ensure that the perpetrators are caught and they face the full might of the law,” provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said in a statement.
He said that the ANC leaders in the municipality would try their best to make sure service delivery was not affected by the fire.
Sapa