PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The recent Plett soup kitchen fire was a double tragedy as a small business, which was ready to start trading following the country's lockdown downgrade to Level 4, also burnt to the ground.

Owner of Edaweni Chesa Nyama in Qolweni, Vee Oliphant, said the fire started on Friday 1 May in a house behind his business, but quickly engulfed the popular eatery.

Oliphant said he was not operating at the time due to lockdown regulations and allowed a local soup kitchen to operate from the premises. "It was my bit to help the community I love," Oliphant said. He added that he was however preparing to operate again following the announcement of Level 4 lockdown regulations.

Initially it was believed the property from which the soup kitchen ran, was the old Qolweni Community Hall, but Oliphant said the building was opposite his premises and did not burn down.

"I lost everything in the fire from my music equipment to utensils. Everything I need to operate my business is gone," he said.

He added that the Bitou Municipality supplied him and the owners of the other building that was destroyed with 25 roof sheets. 

"I gave all mine to the those who lost their home. I luckily don't live on the business premises and felt terrible that there would be people with not even a roof over their head during these tough times."

Oliphant said due to the fact that his business can no longer operate, three families are now without an income in already difficult times.

The municipality had not responded to various queries about the fire by the time of going to print.

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