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 displaced. Fortunately, the occupants managed to evacuate, and no casualties were reported.
“Fire Safety is currently conducting preliminary investigations to determine the cause of fire. Disaster Management is on scene to assist the affected families,” Radebe said.
The City of Cape Town said humanitarian aid group Gift of the Givers will be providing support to the affected residents for the next five days.
“Informal Settlement Management and the National Human Settlements Department are actively engaging with the community to discuss the plans for rebuilding,” said the city’s Disaster Risk Management Center spokesperson Charlotte Powell.
“The electricity department is currently assessing the extent of the damage to infrastructure on-site, while Solid Waste will remove the fire debris.”
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