The large number of devastating fires in informal settlements has forced an increase of almost R5-million in the Western Cape social services budget for disasters this financial year.
A statement by the City of Cape Town indicates that there were nearly 2 000 fires in informal settlements last year. More than 8 000 homes had already been destroyed by December 13 and about 28 000 people had been left destitute.
Last week alone 95 shacks burnt down in Masiphumelele, displacing about 120 families, and more than 300 shacks were razed in Khayelitsha.
Earmarked more than R7-million for disasters but had already spent R12-million
And on Tuesday one person died in a fire in an informal settlement in Kuils River. Police spokesperson Randall Stoffels said about 100 dwellings were destroyed.
The head of social services and poverty alleviation, Virginia Petersen, said the department had originally earmarked slightly more than R7-million for disasters but had already spent R12-million.
"It is more than we anticipated," she said.
"You can never plan 100 percent for disasters, but within government there is a process of constantly adjusting the budget for disasters to accommodate it as it happens.
"This year we had to make adjustments because of the number of fires experienced and the number of people affected. It started with the Joe Slovo fire disaster in Langa earlier in the year."
'You can never plan 100 percent for disasters'
Increases in the budget had been needed for the 2004 and 2005 financial years.
"The trend started in March 2004, when the budget was adjusted by R4-million after a huge fire in Hout Bay, followed by a number of smaller fires," she said.
Emergency food relief and blankets are distributed by the Department of Social Services after each fire via agencies such as the Red Cross.
The national disaster fund provides R500 to each affected family, while local authorities distribute starter packs consisting of building materials for families to start rebuilding their houses.
Each local authority tried to order starter packs well ahead of the time, so the councils would be prepared, Petersen said. Usually families are fed for up to five days and rehoused in alternative accommodation as quickly as possible.
Petersen explained that the department was extremely busy between December 15 and January 15, when the outbreak of fires in informal settlement fires reached its peak.
"We find that irresponsible behaviour over the festive season, as well as alcohol use, exacerbated by windy conditions, fuels fires," she said.
The MEC for social services and poverty alleviation, Koleka Mqulwana, said the owners of some of the burnt-out shacks were at present away visiting relatives in the Eastern Cape.
"It is a very unfortunate situation, but our field workers are on the ground compiling audits," Mqulwana said.
"Members of the community who know their neighbours register them for social relief."
A long-term approach was needed, she said.
"We need to provide people with houses, because in the summer people are confronted by fires, while in winter they must contend with floods."
Veld fires fuelled by a strong south-easter have also damaged vast tracts of natural vegetation in the province during the dry summer season. - Cape Argus
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