Cape Town - Just two days to Christmas, yet another fire has swept through the Masiphumelele informal settlement near Kommetjie, leaving over 100 structures destroyed and hundreds of people displaced.
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said an emergency call was received at approximately 4.30 am on Monday morning of structures alight.
“The first arriving officer from Kommetjie Road saw the extent of the fire and called for additional resources.
“The incident command post has been set up in Houmoed Avenue, from where operations are being directed.
“Electricity to the area was shut off for the duration of the incident, to mitigate any potential risk from overhead wires. Law enforcement has been requested to patrol the fire lines, as there have been attempts to cut fire hoses.”
He adds that 14 frontline firefighting resources from various fire stations with more than 70 staff members were on scene. No injuries or fatalities were reported and the fire was extinguished at 11.50am.
Sonica Lategan, Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, said the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre will conduct a formal assessment of the fire once the site has been cleared.
“At this stage, there is no verification on the number of affected persons. Indications are that the number of structures destroyed could exceed 100. These statistics will be confirmed once the assessment has been completed, and all affected persons registered for onward submission to SASSA and the National Department of Human Settlements.
Humanitarian relief partners, Living Hope and Gift of the Givers, were on site to assist with the immediate needs of the affected residents.
Ali Sablay from Gift of the Givers said teams are still active and supporting fire victims of five other fire sites over the past five days. After the fire was extinguished, some residents were picking up the pieces trying to gather material to build new structures.
Fire victim Zinzi Tshazibana, 39, said: “We lost everything. Just Sunday I finished all my Christmas shopping but now all the groceries and even my child’s clothes are burned. I don’t know where we are going to eat or sleep.”
Single father Abongile Jingqi was working night shift when he heard the news.
“I am thankful my boys aged two and four years are in Eastern Cape for the holiday because my place is burned down.”