The tenants that live above the restaurant were taken to safety by neighbours.
The take-away kitchen of Bo-Kaap’s Biesmiellah restaurant was destroyed in a fire last night, Tuesday July 27.
Shoukat Osman, a manager of the 44-year old establishment on Wale street, said neighbours alerted the owners to the danger.
“Our neighbours called us and they alerted the fire department too, they rescued the tenants that live upstairs,” said Mr Osman.
“One of the tenants has a leg that’s amputated, so the neighbours acted quickly. There was so much smoke and it just shows you the comradeship and bravery of our neighbours,” he said.
“We closed early last night so there was no staff here thankfully, and it’s only the take-away kitchen that is badly damaged but still we will be closed for a week. The fire department acted swiftly and for that we are grateful too.”
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for City’s Fire and Rescue Service, they received an emergency call at 21.36pm.
Crews from Roeland Street, Sea Point and Milnerton fire stations were dispatched and managed to contain the fire to the rear of the kitchen.
“The fire was extinguished at 22.24pm and the building was handed over to the owners. The cause of the fire is not yet known,” Mr Carelse said