Three families were left displaced after a fire broke out at Malindza Reception Centre in the Lubombo Region on Friday morning, affecting eight people from Burundi and Rwanda, including a primary school going child.
The incident occurred at around 10.30am on 9 January 2026 at the government run facility. In a statement issued by Acting Principal Secretary G P Shabangu from the Ministry of Home Affairs offices in Mbabane, preliminary findings point to unattended cooking, which is believed to have triggered an electrical spark that led to the blaze.
One housing unit was badly damaged, with household property destroyed in the fire. Items lost include two deep freezers, mattresses, blankets, hot plates, clothing, furniture, as well as school uniforms and books belonging to the affected families.
No injuries or fatalities were recorded, despite the presence of several occupants at the centre at the time of the incident. The affected families have since been temporarily accommodated at the centre’s pre school and computer laboratory, where they are expected to stay until Monday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said it is working with other stakeholders to conduct further investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assess the total value of the losses incurred.
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