A shack fire in Du Noon has left one person burnt beyond recognition and more than 500 residents without homes after flames swept through the informal settlement early yesterday.
The fire started at 1.15am, destroying 122 homes and displacing 520 residents, including 20 infants, said the city of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.
Fire crews brought the fire under control by 4.15am. The fire was believed to have been the result of a quarrel between a woman and her boyfriend who threatened to burn down her house, said community leader Albert Ndevu.
Neither party could be found yesterday, he said.
Police are still investigating and have not yet determined a cause.
One resident was burnt to death, but police could not identify the person's sex because of the severity of the burns, said Milnerton police spokeswoman Daphne Dell.
Mveliso Mbukushe put up a simple fence and laid a black plastic bag above the charred remains of the shack where the person had died. Mbukushe said the fire victim was his brother, Velile Codana, 28.
"People tried to cross here, but I'm trying to tell them not to cross, to show something dangerous happened here," Mbukushe said, removing his hat out of respect.
The fire started at 1.15am, destroying 122 homes and displacing 520 residents, including 20 infants, said the city of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.
Fire crews brought the fire under control by 4.15am. The fire was believed to have been the result of a quarrel between a woman and her boyfriend who threatened to burn down her house, said community leader Albert Ndevu.
Neither party could be found yesterday, he said.
Police are still investigating and have not yet determined a cause.
One resident was burnt to death, but police could not identify the person's sex because of the severity of the burns, said Milnerton police spokeswoman Daphne Dell.
Mveliso Mbukushe put up a simple fence and laid a black plastic bag above the charred remains of the shack where the person had died. Mbukushe said the fire victim was his brother, Velile Codana, 28.
"People tried to cross here, but I'm trying to tell them not to cross, to show something dangerous happened here," Mbukushe said, removing his hat out of respect.
'Everything is gone, I've only got these clothes'
His brother, who was alone in the shack, had apparently been drinking and was asleep when the fire broke out, Mbukushe said. He had not seen the body before the police arrived and said he was upset that authorities did not place markers or tape to indicate where his brother had died.
"His blood and oils are still in the soil. I want to bury him, but his body's not there," Mbukushe explained, adding that he did not want neighbours walking over, or building on top of, the place where his brother died.
Emergency response teams arrived to provide food parcels, blankets and other aid for the affected victims, Solomons-Johannes said.
A local children's non-profit organisation, Home of Hope, donated clothes and toys for the children. Though the city had not arranged other accommodation for the displaced victims, the city's housing department was issuing building materials for residents to rebuild their homes, Solomons-Johannes said.
In the meantime, many of those who fled their burning homes said they hoped to stay with neighbours or relatives.
"I don't know, maybe I'll sleep at that place," said resident Enock Silo, pointing to a shack down the road still intact.
"Everything is gone, I've only got these clothes."
"His blood and oils are still in the soil. I want to bury him, but his body's not there," Mbukushe explained, adding that he did not want neighbours walking over, or building on top of, the place where his brother died.
Emergency response teams arrived to provide food parcels, blankets and other aid for the affected victims, Solomons-Johannes said.
A local children's non-profit organisation, Home of Hope, donated clothes and toys for the children. Though the city had not arranged other accommodation for the displaced victims, the city's housing department was issuing building materials for residents to rebuild their homes, Solomons-Johannes said.
In the meantime, many of those who fled their burning homes said they hoped to stay with neighbours or relatives.
"I don't know, maybe I'll sleep at that place," said resident Enock Silo, pointing to a shack down the road still intact.
"Everything is gone, I've only got these clothes."
- Cape Argus
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