Help displaced Dunoon residents rise from disaster

THOUSANDS of Dunoon residents have no idea how they will recover from a devastating fire that left more than 5000 people homeless just days before their children are set to return to school on Wednesday. 

Described as the largest informal settlement fire in the Western Cape since the 2013 Khayelitsha fire, with ‘complete chaos as far as the eye can see’, the fire destroyed more than 1 000 shacks, displacing about 5 500 people.

Resident Nomvuzo Mukumela, 47, said that the impact of the fire has been one of the worst that she has seen in her community.

“Many residents lost everything that they worked for, and it will be very difficult for them to start afresh, keeping in mind that we come from disadvantaged backgrounds and try by all means to get food on the table,” Mukumela said.

“There are a lot of them that lost even the school uniforms that they bought, so it's a very sad situation.”

Kantyi added that they have had Gift of the Givers (GoTG) on the scene trying their best to assist with food and water.

Community activist Emihle Kanityi, 28 was also among the people affected by the fire.  

“A lot of children don't even have school uniforms to go back to school. They have no stationery, they don't have anything. So we would really appreciate any donation in that department. We need food to eat. Other people don't even have the materials to build their houses because they were away...they were in the Eastern Cape,” Kanityi said.

Kanityi said residents were also being frustrated by insensitive social media posts.

“At this point, we need a helping hand. We don't need people who are gonna be there and just take a picture of us. The only thing that I'm gonna say is that we are all people. This might happen to us, and tomorrow it might happen to you.

"There are children here. If you have water, especially if you live in the surrounding areas, you can come and assist us with that,” Kanityi said.

Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said one of the worst fears came true when community members started to rebuild structures again in areas that have been condemned. 

“It's quite concerning, as there are still many wires lying around. There's still sewerage pipes lying around, and community members are not heeding that call from the law enforcement and from the officials on the ground about the danger of building up the structures again.”

He said that there is a major need for humanitarian aid, with the numbers coming in by the hundreds.

“Gift of the Givers is providing daily meals, 5,000 breakfast, 5,000 lunch, 5,000 supper on a daily basis to the affected families. The situation is quite heartbreaking. Other parents are raising concerns that, you know, all their children are starting Grade R and Grade 1. Their documents have completely burned. They do not know how their children are going to go to school; they want their children away from this devastation, away from the site, as it is unsafe to be here at the moment.”

Human Settlements mayco member Carl Pophaim said City officials have been instructed to step aside temporarily to avoid conflict. 

“We are not withdrawing from the area. We are ready to work with residents, community leadership and other spheres of government to find a way forward, which restores safe and dignified housing as quickly as possible.

“We acknowledge the distress experienced by residents and understand the mistrust which has emerged because of past delays and unfulfilled commitments by the National Department of Human Settlements.” 

He said the City has made R12 million available for the site to be reblocked and have contractors on standby, ready to begin work immediately. 

“The City notes the rejection by the affected community for that reblocking intervention. It is important to place on record that the City is ready to respond. The necessary budget has been identified, contractors are on standby and essential services are on site and ready to begin work immediately.”

Cape Times