Home » News: Ugandan Man Burns down Car Dealership shop worth N65m owned By Nigerians In South Africa

News: Ugandan Man Burns down Car Dealership shop worth N65m owned By Nigerians In South Africa

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Car Dealership shop

A devastating arson attack has left a Nigerian-owned automobile workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, in ruins, and a Ugandan national is suspected to be behind the destructive act.

According to saharareporters.com, the incident, which took place on September 5, 2023, saw nine cars and vehicle parts worth a staggering R1,550,000.00 (approximately N65 million) reduced to ashes, leaving business owners in shock and despair.

The National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) issued a statement on Saturday, conveying the grim news of the deliberate fire.

Mr. Owolabi Gbadamosi, one of the affected businessmen, described the harrowing moment when he received a distressing call about the arson attack at around 7 p.m. that fateful day.

READ: News: South African Tourism’s Nationwide Training Aims to Boost Tourism Industry Amidst Recovery in Inbound Travel in ‘Learn South Africa 2023’

The sequence of events unfolded as Gbadamosi and his coworkers had left the business premises for their respective homes in the province around 6 p.m. that evening.

Initially, they had mistaken the incident for a transformer explosion, a common occurrence in the area. But a chilling call soon shattered that misconception, alerting them to the fire consuming their livelihood.

The statement from NUSA explained, “They imagined it was a transformer explosion that occasionally happened nearby until they got a call warning them of a fire at their business unit. When criminals attempt to take cables from the substation, it frequently occurs. Their shop was not significantly damaged by these blasts. However, as they neared the scene, they noticed flames that warned them that something major was going on.”

READ: Africa: Amid Pandemic Economy Challenges, South African Tourism Sector Rebounds with 33.3% Increase in Domestic Demand in First Half of 2023

The fire department had already arrived at the scene, striving to contain the blaze when the business owners arrived. Despite their desperate attempts to salvage some vehicles, the fire brigade cautioned against it due to the dangerous fumes and explosion risk.

The roots of this tragic incident can be traced to a dispute between a Ugandan national who had been subletting part of the property for seven years and his son. The father had been running an automobile spare part business on the premises but decided to hand it over to his son after establishing a similar business in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, which proved more profitable.

Tensions escalated when the son conducted a transaction through his father’s bank account and only received half of the money, leading to a heated argument. The son, unable to establish his own bank account due to documentation issues, was dissatisfied with his father’s handling of the situation, as he desired to reinvest the earnings into the business.

The dispute reached a boiling point when the father obtained a court order to restrict his son from the property and surrounding businesses. In the weeks leading up to the arson, the conflict became so intense that the son attempted to stab his father but was prevented by mediators. The son ominously threatened that this was not the end of their feud.

When the fire erupted, the father was heard lamenting that his son was responsible for the arson attack. While the primary target appeared to be his portion of the business, the destructive flames spread to engulf Mr. Owolabi Gbadamosi and his colleagues’ businesses.

The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) promptly responded to the devastating incident, with representatives, including Acting President Mrs. Doris-Ikeri Solarin, visiting the scene to console their compatriots affected by the tragedy. NUSA also liaised with the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa, in pursuit of legal avenues to secure compensation for the affected citizens.

As investigations continue, the suspected arsonist remains at large, leaving the affected Nigerian business owners grappling with the aftermath of this catastrophic event.

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News: Ugandan Man Burns down Car Dealership shop worth N65m owned By Nigerians In South Africa

by Atqnews
0 comments
Obudu Cargo Airport

A devastating arson attack has left a Nigerian-owned automobile workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, in ruins, and a Ugandan national is suspected to be behind the destructive act.

According to saharareporters.com, the incident, which took place on September 5, 2023, saw nine cars and vehicle parts worth a staggering R1,550,000.00 (approximately N65 million) reduced to ashes, leaving business owners in shock and despair.

The National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) issued a statement on Saturday, conveying the grim news of the deliberate fire.

Mr. Owolabi Gbadamosi, one of the affected businessmen, described the harrowing moment when he received a distressing call about the arson attack at around 7 p.m. that fateful day.

READ: News: South African Tourism’s Nationwide Training Aims to Boost Tourism Industry Amidst Recovery in Inbound Travel in ‘Learn South Africa 2023’

The sequence of events unfolded as Gbadamosi and his coworkers had left the business premises for their respective homes in the province around 6 p.m. that evening.

Initially, they had mistaken the incident for a transformer explosion, a common occurrence in the area. But a chilling call soon shattered that misconception, alerting them to the fire consuming their livelihood.

The statement from NUSA explained, “They imagined it was a transformer explosion that occasionally happened nearby until they got a call warning them of a fire at their business unit. When criminals attempt to take cables from the substation, it frequently occurs. Their shop was not significantly damaged by these blasts. However, as they neared the scene, they noticed flames that warned them that something major was going on.”

READ: Africa: Amid Pandemic Economy Challenges, South African Tourism Sector Rebounds with 33.3% Increase in Domestic Demand in First Half of 2023

The fire department had already arrived at the scene, striving to contain the blaze when the business owners arrived. Despite their desperate attempts to salvage some vehicles, the fire brigade cautioned against it due to the dangerous fumes and explosion risk.

The roots of this tragic incident can be traced to a dispute between a Ugandan national who had been subletting part of the property for seven years and his son. The father had been running an automobile spare part business on the premises but decided to hand it over to his son after establishing a similar business in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, which proved more profitable.

Tensions escalated when the son conducted a transaction through his father’s bank account and only received half of the money, leading to a heated argument. The son, unable to establish his own bank account due to documentation issues, was dissatisfied with his father’s handling of the situation, as he desired to reinvest the earnings into the business.

The dispute reached a boiling point when the father obtained a court order to restrict his son from the property and surrounding businesses. In the weeks leading up to the arson, the conflict became so intense that the son attempted to stab his father but was prevented by mediators. The son ominously threatened that this was not the end of their feud.

When the fire erupted, the father was heard lamenting that his son was responsible for the arson attack. While the primary target appeared to be his portion of the business, the destructive flames spread to engulf Mr. Owolabi Gbadamosi and his colleagues’ businesses.

The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) promptly responded to the devastating incident, with representatives, including Acting President Mrs. Doris-Ikeri Solarin, visiting the scene to console their compatriots affected by the tragedy. NUSA also liaised with the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa, in pursuit of legal avenues to secure compensation for the affected citizens.

As investigations continue, the suspected arsonist remains at large, leaving the affected Nigerian business owners grappling with the aftermath of this catastrophic event.

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