Masiphumelele fire victims left with 'only the clothes on our backs'

“I have children who are in school and are left with only their uniforms because the fire started while they were in school, but they are home now and can’t go to school."

These were the words of Masiphumelele resident Melvin Kilani who lost everything in a devastating fire on Tuesday and said that his children could not return to school on Wednesday without clean clothes or food.

“I lost everything and I am left with the clothes I am wearing now.

“This is the second time I have been affected by a fire. In 2022, there was a fire but I managed to save some things. But this time, nothing could be saved,” he said.

After losing their homes and belongings in the fire that destroyed at least 363 structures by City estimates, community leaders said they were looking for shelter for affected residents. 

The City's Fire and Rescue Services were called in at around 3.15pm as the blaze, fanned by a howling southeaster, tore through the informal settlement. About 40 firefighters from several stations and three choppers water-bombed the scene.

One firefighter sustained a wrist fracture and was transferred to a medical facility for treatment.

In an update on the situation on Wednesday, the City’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) spokesperson Sonica Lategan said: "DRM and the City’s Informal Settlements Branch are still registering affected persons – at this stage, the number of structures damaged is 363 – this is not the final total."

Community leader Tshepo Moletshane said the situation was tense with residents desperate for shelter at the local community centre.

“Some of the local churches and youth centre opened their doors to accommodate the people. The fire victims are very angry that the hall is locked when we have an emergency.”

Local ward councillor Patricia Franke, who was engaged in meetings on Wednesday, said: “Due to the provincial government gateway, the opening of the halls is no longer with the City.”

She added that no plan has been confirmed to open the community hall yet.

The City's Disaster Risk Management Spokesperson, Charlotte Powell said Gift of the Givers and the Living Hope NGO were on the scene to respond to the immediate humanitarian relief needs on site.

Gift of the Givers said community leaders alerted the organisation after strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly through the area, leaving residents with little opportunity to save their belongings.

"Firefighters worked under extremely difficult weather conditions and are commended for bringing the blaze under control and preventing it from spreading further to additional structures."

"Gift of the Givers teams will be on site to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, including hot meals and bottled water, with further aid to follow as the number of affected residents is confirmed."

While the fire season has been relatively quiet over the festive period, a significant number of people have been affected in a short space of time, the organisation said, adding their teams remain active in Du Noon, where a devastating fire on January 9 left more than 2500 people homeless.