A luxury home in The Edge Estate, Mbombela, was destroyed by fire late on, November 7, with Hendrik Pretorius and his family narrowly escaping harm.

The Lowveld Fire Rangers responded to the emergency at 18:02, quickly dispatching a team to the scene. Mbombela Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter, but despite their efforts, the fire spread rapidly, resulting in severe damage to the property.

Stefan Potgieter from the Lowveld Fire Rangers confirmed the extent of the destruction, noting that only the porch, garage, and staff quarters remained intact. A City of Mbombela ward councillor, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned that the fire broke out while only one of the Pretorius children and the family’s housekeeper were inside. Fortunately, they evacuated safely, as Hendrik and another son were out at Steiltes Park when the fire began.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Firefighters at the scene refrained from speculating on potential causes, emphasizing that further examination is needed to determine the origin of the fire.