A fire that broke out at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition facility in Somerset West on Tuesday morning has been contained, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.
The blaze started shortly before 10am, prompting a swift response from the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre, Fire and Rescue Services, Emergency Medical Services, and the company’s internal emergency teams. The fire was brought under control by around 10:30am.
Company spokesperson Lindi Rabopape said the organisation remains focused on safety and will fully cooperate with authorities to determine the cause of the incident. She urged nearby communities not to be alarmed while investigations are underway.
Emergency services confirmed that crews from Macassar and Khayelitsha were deployed to the site, where they worked alongside on-site teams to extinguish the fire and secure the facility.
While the cause has not yet been established, officials have begun preparations for a formal investigation once the area is declared safe.
The incident has again drawn attention to the plant’s safety record. The Somerset West facility previously experienced a fatal explosion in 2018 that killed eight workers, and another explosion in 2021 that caused damage but no fatalities.
Community groups, including the Macassar Activist Forum, have renewed calls for greater transparency and independent oversight of the facility’s safety procedures. They argue that repeated incidents raise serious concerns about regulatory compliance and corporate accountability.
Authorities say investigations into Tuesday’s fire are ongoing.