Several vehicles were damaged in a fire that broke out at the Bethlehem Airshow in the Free State, with authorities suspecting the blaze was caused by someone attempting to braai meat. The annual airshow, which aims to boost tourism, had returned after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dihlabeng Local Municipality Mayor, Tseki Tseki, confirmed that 19 cars were affected by the fire, with 9 vehicles completely destroyed beyond repair. "We had an unfortunate incident where 19 cars were gutted, but 10 of them are still repairable," said Tseki.
Local authorities believe the fire may have been started by minors in the parking lot who were preparing to braai, based on preliminary reports.
The incident has cast a shadow over the otherwise well-attended event, which had hoped to reinvigorate local tourism after years of inactivity.