JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The office of South Africa's Department of Home Affairs in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, was set ablaze on Tuesday morning.
The City of Ekurhuleni said the blaze broke out while officials were carrying out an eviction operation at nearby low-cost houses that were reportedly occupied illegally.
Ekurhuleni's Disaster and Emergency Management Service contained the blaze on the second floor of the two-story building and extinguished it before it could spread.
"Firefighters were forced to make entry to locked areas to secure the premises. No injuries have been reported at this time," said Phakamile Mbengashe, head of communication, marketing, and tourism at the City of Ekurhuleni.
He said the cause of the fire remains undetected for now, though arson is suspected, and a full investigation will commence once the fire is contained.
Mbengashe urged people to remain calm. Since the fire is suspected to have been started by protesters evicted from a nearby complex, he emphasized that people with complaints must channel them through peaceful and lawful channels.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber later confirmed the fire on the social media platform X. He said authorities are working with the police to gather evidence to ensure the arrest and conviction of suspects.
