Khayelitsha fire: Hundreds homeless as school year approaches

IN what has been described as the biggest fire of this season, more than 300 people were displaced when a fire destroyed about 177 shacks in Khayelitsha.

Gift of the Givers (GOTG) and Disaster Risk Management were on the scene providing assistance, but residents remain in urgent need of basic necessities.

GOTG said that their teams were activated after a fire ripped through the Phakamani Road settlement, “leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of people homeless”. This had been the biggest fire of the season, GOTG spokesperson Ali Sablay said. 

“Yesterday our teams were called in a frantic panic by community leaders and fire victims. When we got on site, we saw it was a huge fire, with over 180 structures burnt out, and the number of people homeless is still being tallied as community leaders and disaster officials are still on the ground.

“We do know there was a state of panic last night as community leaders were trying to put people in halls, but we are very grateful to some churches, friends and family members who took in the affected families,” Sablay said.

Community leader Xoliswa Peters said frustration and despair were running high, with many residents feeling frustrated after losing almost everything in the blaze.

“Some of them were not even in Cape Town. Some of them were not even in their houses, but in work and church. A lot of structures have been destroyed, and about 385 people have been displaced.”

Peters said residents had been relying on GOTG for support, as verification with the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) was still ongoing. She appealed for any donations, including washing racks, nappies, clothing, and sanitary towels, which would make a big difference to those affected.

DRMC spokesperson Charlotte Powell said they had finalised their assessment following the fire and confirmed that 177 structures were destroyed, affecting 377 people.

“The City’s Informal Settlements Management Branch is on site and has approached National Human Settlements to aid rebuilding efforts, although some residents have already started rebuilding their structures. Others are staying with friends and family in the immediate vicinity. 

“In the interim, efforts continue to work along with local community leadership and religious organisations to arrange emergency shelter. SASSA and the Department of Social Development have arrived on site, and Gift of the Givers too, continue to assist with immediate humanitarian relief needs. 

“Eskom and the City’s Water and Sanitation Department have been activated to attend to infrastructure damage and restore electricity and water supply, as well as ablution facilities,” Powell said.

Compared to previous years, this fire season has been quieter in the province, Sablay noted, reflecting a positive shift as communities become more cautious.

“Last year, over this period, we were dealing with close to 40 fires already. We’ve had a relatively quiet fire season. There were some major fires in Imizamo Yethu, Mbekweni (near Paarl), and one in Dunoon as well.

“Gift of the Givers teams remain on high alert as we know with the strong winds still carrying on.”

Sablay said their teams would stay on site for five to seven days, supporting fire victims with food, blankets, mattresses, and other much-needed essentials.

He added that many fire victims were struggling to cope with the devastation, and with schools reopening next week, parents are concerned and in need of support with school uniforms and stationery. Those wishing to help can contact GOTG at 0800 786 911 or email info@giftofthegivers.org.

Cape Times