A fire at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition facility in Somerset West prompted an emergency response on Tuesday morning, 28 April 2026, but no injuries were reported.

The RDM Somerset West fire broke out at about 09:50, according to information from the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Sonica Lategan and a statement attributed to RDM.

Emergency crews respond to RDM Somerset West fire

City Fire and Rescue crews from Macassar and Khayelitsha were dispatched to the Rheinmetall Denel Munition site after reports of a building alight on the premises. Disaster Risk Management officials also attended the scene to assist where needed.

According to the City, Emergency Medical Services were on site, but no injuries were reported. The incident and its impact were limited to the premises, and the City directed further questions to Denel.

RDM said the fire incident occurred at approximately 09:50 on Tuesday, 28 April. The company said local emergency services and its own teams were quickly dispatched to manage the incident.

The company added that an investigation into the cause of the RDM Somerset West fire would begin once officials declared the area safe.

Investigation expected after site declared safe

RDM said it remained committed to operating safely and responsibly and would cooperate with the relevant authorities during the investigation.

The Somerset West facility forms part of Rheinmetall Denel Munition, a company jointly owned by Germany’s Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH and South Africa’s Denel. Rheinmetall says RDM develops and manufactures large- and medium-calibre ammunition families and operates in the artillery, mortar and infantry systems sectors.

The latest incident comes nearly eight years after a deadly explosion at the RDM plant on 3 September 2018. Denel said at the time that the 2018 blast occurred in a propellant operations building and destroyed the building and nearby blast walls.

Eight workers died in that explosion. The Cape Argus reported that families of the victims have continued to seek answers and full financial compensation while processes linked to the Department of Employment and Labour inquiry continued.

Responses and reactions

In its statement, RDM said no injuries were reported in Tuesday’s incident and that safety measures had been effective. It also said an investigation would follow once the area was safe.

Community leader Christiaan Stewart said the community was awaiting further feedback on the claims. No additional official finding on the cause of Tuesday’s RDM Somerset West fire had been released at the time of publication.