The City of Cape Town is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a MyCiTi bus and severely damaged the Killarney MyCiTi station on Monday morning.
The fire broke out shortly before 9am after the driver reportedly heard an unusual sound as he arrived at the station on Potsdam Road. Smoke was then seen coming from the front of the bus. Passengers and staff were safely evacuated before the fire intensified.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze while traffic along Potsdam Road was diverted. The bus was destroyed and the station sustained extensive damage. It will remain closed until further notice.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, says officials are investigating both the cause of the fire and whether it is connected to an earlier protest in the area.
“Thankfully, all of the passengers and the staff were safely evacuated before the fire got worse.”
Quintas says the closure of the station will have a significant impact on commuters who use the route. Passengers will need to use the Potsdam MyCiTi station at the corner of Potsdam and Blaauwberg Roads while repairs are carried out.
“This is a massive blow to our operations as this is a very popular route. The cost of the damage will be determined in the coming days, but we expect it will run into millions. Depending on the extent of the damage, repairs could take many months, if not at least a year.”
