Rebuild, recover, and continue to serve, says kickboxing coach following devastating fire

Westridge-based Mitchells Plain Kickboxing Club has been dealt a devastating blow after a fire destroyed all of the club’s training equipment stored in a shed at chief instructor Jeremy Petersen's home in Lentegeur.

The club is only weeks away from having its fighters compete at a national championship event.

To make matters worse, it's suspected the fire was a result of an arson attack aimed at a neighboring house, Petersen said.

The shed, which acts as a makeshift gym where he does private training sessions, unfortunately, got caught in the crossfire when the suspected arsonists allegedly used the his premises to gain access to their intended target.

The incident occurred about a month ago. Along with the loss of the gym’s equipment, the fire also gutted the lounge area of the home where the club is based.  Peterson, who has operated the gym for years, says the emotional and financial setback is one that he’s still trying to come to terms with. 

“I’m trying not to think too much about it because it’s just a painful reminder,” said Peterson.  

“It seems like there was a confrontation involving our next-door neighbor and someone who threatened to petrol bomb their place. From what we can tell, the suspect climbed onto our garage roof with petrol and must have spilled some inside. There’s also artificial grass in our gym area, and that also went up in flames, and within 15 minutes, everything was gone.”

Among the destroyed equipment were weights, treadmills, gloves, pads, battle ropes, a vibrating machine and more, collectively valued north of R100,000. Even more devastating, the club had recently got brand new equipment that hadn’t even been unwrapped yet. 

Peterson emphasised that rebuilding won’t be easy.  

“This is equipment that takes years to collect. You don’t just replace everything in one go,” he said.  

He says it’s not just about the money but the work, the time and the energy they have put into building this space.

In the days following the fire, the situation worsened. With the home, also housing Peterson’s parents, now vacated due to safety concerns, looters attempted to break in and scavenge whatever remained using the easy access to the home.  

“Some people were using the chaos to help themselves,” he said.  

“We had to act fast to secure what we could and try to rebuild as fast as we can.” 

The Mitchells Plain Kickboxing Club is more than just a gym, it’s a hub of discipline, mentorship, and opportunity for local youth. On any given day the gym serves up to 40 students at a time and has a membership of over 60.

It works closely with local schools and provides a safe, structured environment for young people in the area. 

Despite the immense loss, support has begun to pour in. Martial arts gyms across Cape Town have stepped up to help, donating equipment to help Mitchells Plain Kickboxing Club get back on its feet. 

“A lot of the clubs have been incredibly generous,” said Peterson.  

“We’re very grateful because it helps us keep going with the work we do in our community. We may never be able to replace the full value of what we lost, but we are slowly rebuilding, one step at a time.”

The gym, however, hasn’t let the tragedy stop them. Six fighters from the club, including Peterson himself, are preparing to compete in the upcoming national kickboxing championships.  

To aid in their rebuilding efforts, the club has launched a donation page where anyone willing to help can contribute. 

As Peterson says, the commitment has not changed despite the setback. The mission is still clear: rebuild, recover, and continue serving the community through martial arts one round at a time. 

For more information about the club or If you'd like to assist in any way, visit backabuddy.co.za/campaign/support-for-mitchells-plain-kickboxing or call 076 028 6123.