Yet another section of the Masiphumelele informal settlement has gone up in flames.
Hundreds of shacks in the informal settlement’s Z-section caught alight on Monday morning – later spreading to the nearby wetlands area.
“Fifteen firefighting appliances and about 70 staff [were] battling to contain the blaze which [was] spreading in the direction of Lake Michelle… SAPS and law enforcement had to be called in when members of the community tried to interfere with the work of the firefighters. There have also been reports of looting in the area.”
– Jermaine Carelse, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services
This is the second major fire in the area this month – which means another group of residents have to rebuild their homes.
Just last week, D-section residents started moving into the structures they had built after their homes burned down at the start of November.
And statistics show that these are part of a cycle of disaster in Masiphumelele.
Between August 2016 and the first week of November this year, City Fire and Rescue Services responded to 163 fires there.
On average, that’s a fire every two weeks – for six years.
Following the D-section fire, the City of Cape Town noted that it’s awaiting the necessary approvals to start building permanent homes in the area.
It’s hoping to get those approvals at the start of next year.
Authorities were on the scene just before 10:00 to attend to the fire. Gift of the Givers have since been on scene to assist the fire victims. Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied/Gift of the Givers
