More than 800 shacks gutted after fires rip through Cape Town and Joburg informal settlements

Lerato Mbhiza

Nearly 800 people have been left homeless after four separate shack fires ripped through hundreds of informal structures in various areas of Cape Town and Joburg this weekend killing two people and injuring two others.

Two of the fires occurred at the Joe Slovo informal Settlement in Langa, while another fire occurred in Mfuleni, and the fourth fire was reported in Du Noon.

The four separate fires destroyed more than 300 structures in total, the City of Cape Town reported in a statement.

In Joburg at least 60 shacks were destroyed by fire leaving scores of families homeless.

It is understood that the blaze swept through the informal settlement early on Sunday morning at Commissioner Street, Fairview.

Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Nana Radebe said firefighters managed to contain the blaze.

Upon arrival, firefighter crews found the 60 shacks fully engulfed with flames and leaving, a number of families