GEORGE NEWS - The old magistrate's house on the corner of Davidson and Arbour Road caught fire this morning, 20 March, at approximately 06:45.

According to Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, senior communications officer for George Municipality, two rooms were damaged.

"The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, but we can confirm that it is unrelated to shutdown activities. The fire brigade attended to the scene and the fire was put out," he said.

George Herald over the years has reported repeatedly on vandalism to the building and complaints from the surrounding neighbourhood about criminal activities believed to originate from there. The George Heritage Society has expressed dismay at the way in which the custodian of the property, the National Department of Transport and Public Works, has allowed the building to deteriorate.

The Western Cape Department of Public Works has applied to the national department to transfer the property to the province, but the national department has been slow in taking the process forward. The application was made on behalf of the Western Cape Provincial Health Department for the property to be utilised to extend George Hospital.

During George Herald's recent visit to the property, there were signs that the house is still illegally occupied, despite assertions from Public Works that a security company has been appointed to guard it.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’