KEY POINTS
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A wildfire suspected to be arson has destroyed 3,000 hectares of Table Mountain National Park, displacing hundreds and damaging critical infrastructure.
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Firefighters face extreme conditions as the blaze threatens biodiversity hotspots, with fynbos ecosystems and wildlife suffering significant losses.
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Authorities warn the deliberate ignition mirrors recent arson cases, prompting calls for harsher legal consequences to deter future incidents.
A devastating arson, suspected to be deliberately ignited, has consumed over 3,000 hectares of Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, prompting mass evacuations and triggering a multi-agency firefighting effort.
Authorities confirmed the arson, which began on Friday evening with three separate ignition points, remains uncontained as strong winds and dry conditions fuel its spread.
Over 250 firefighters, four water-bombing helicopters, and ground crews have been deployed to combat the flames, which have already forced 198 households and 48 frail care patients to evacuate.
Table Mountain National Park Manager Megan Taplin revealed preliminary investigations point to arson. “The way the fires were started and their locations suggest malicious intent,” Taplin told reporters, adding that a full probe will commence once the area is safe.
According to The Citizen, the fire has caused significant infrastructure damage, including ablution facilities, boardwalks, and vehicles in the Silvermine area.
Road closures remain in effect across critical zones, including Ou Kaapse Weg and Tokai, with officials urging residents to avoid the region.
Environmental toll mounts as fynbos ecosystems and wildlife suffer
The inferno has ravaged fragile fynbos vegetation, a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot, and threatens slow-moving wildlife like tortoises.
Animal welfare groups are rescuing injured species, while ecologists warn recovery could take decades. “Fynbos relies on natural fire cycles, but arson disrupts this balance, causing irreversible harm,” said Dr. Jasper Slingsby, a University of Cape Town ecologist.
The park, home to over 2,200 plant species, last faced a catastrophic blaze in 2021, which destroyed 600 hectares and the historic University of Cape Town libraries.
Cape Town’s firefighting resources are stretched thin, with the city’s disaster risk management center activating emergency protocols. Volunteers and NGOs have mobilized to support evacuees, providing temporary shelters and supplies.
Meanwhile, weather forecasts predicting stronger winds and low humidity have raised fears of further spread. “We’re battling a monster,” said firefighter Thando Mbeki. “Every gust undoes hours of work.”
The suspected arson follows a pattern of recent deliberate fires, including a January 2025 blaze at Riverlea High School. Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy condemned the act, pledging stricter penalties for arsonists. “This isn’t just property damage—it’s an attack on our natural heritage,” she stated.
