Fires devastated various parts of Cape Town this weekend, with one fire destroying 36 informal houses in Zone 23, Langa early on Sunday morning, and two toddlers, aged one and three, were burnt to death in another fire.
Residents of the Langa informal settlement believe the fire was started by an allegedly drunk man who knocked over a paraffin stove.
One of the residents, Samkelo Lali, said: “I was awake 10 minutes after the fire started, there were a lot of people outside wanting to see what was happening.
“These people are trying to rebuild their houses but not everyone has enough money to rebuild.”
Lali said no-one was hurt during the blaze.
“The man who did this ran away and people are still looking for him,” he said.
Another resident, Jackson Mgxosholo, said he and his wife were sleeping at the time.
“I woke up and tried to put water on the fire. It took about four hours to put the fire out,” Mgxosholo said.
Disaster Management spokesperson Greg Pillay said: “The fire happened at 3am, 36 informal houses were destroyed and about 150 people were displaced by the fire.”
He said five fire engines responded to the call and an NGO, Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI), is to provide food and blankets to the displaced residents.
The city’s human settlements division has also been informed and is going to supply the now homeless residents with building materials, according to Pillay.
He said another fire in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, displaced 15 people and burnt four shacks down just before 12pm on Saturday night.
Pillay said the Red Cross had been asked to provide food and blankets to the residents.
An informal house that was home to five people also burnt down in Lavender Hill near Military Road on Saturday night.
Pillay said a fire occurred in Phumlani Village in Lotus River at 9pm on Friday night.
He confirmed that seven adults and seven children were displaced as a result of the fire, and two toddlers, aged one and three, burnt to death.
“It has been reported that a candle caused the fire,” he said.
One fire engine from Ottery responded. - Cape Times
Residents of the Langa informal settlement believe the fire was started by an allegedly drunk man who knocked over a paraffin stove.
One of the residents, Samkelo Lali, said: “I was awake 10 minutes after the fire started, there were a lot of people outside wanting to see what was happening.
“These people are trying to rebuild their houses but not everyone has enough money to rebuild.”
Lali said no-one was hurt during the blaze.
“The man who did this ran away and people are still looking for him,” he said.
Another resident, Jackson Mgxosholo, said he and his wife were sleeping at the time.
“I woke up and tried to put water on the fire. It took about four hours to put the fire out,” Mgxosholo said.
Disaster Management spokesperson Greg Pillay said: “The fire happened at 3am, 36 informal houses were destroyed and about 150 people were displaced by the fire.”
He said five fire engines responded to the call and an NGO, Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDI), is to provide food and blankets to the displaced residents.
The city’s human settlements division has also been informed and is going to supply the now homeless residents with building materials, according to Pillay.
He said another fire in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, displaced 15 people and burnt four shacks down just before 12pm on Saturday night.
Pillay said the Red Cross had been asked to provide food and blankets to the residents.
An informal house that was home to five people also burnt down in Lavender Hill near Military Road on Saturday night.
Pillay said a fire occurred in Phumlani Village in Lotus River at 9pm on Friday night.
He confirmed that seven adults and seven children were displaced as a result of the fire, and two toddlers, aged one and three, burnt to death.
“It has been reported that a candle caused the fire,” he said.
One fire engine from Ottery responded. - Cape Times
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