A fire broke out in the “D-section” of Masiphumelele Informal Settlement early hours of this morning, 31 October, destroying close to 100 shacks and leaving many homeless. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, but the full extent of the damage is unclear at the time.
Also Read: The Silvermine Braai area closed with immediate effect
Disaster Management will work with various CoCT departments to assist with relief for the affected community.
The Gift of the Givers will be providing food and the Living Hope team will be doing an assessment of the damage. The City will be working to restore electricity to the D and F sections.
“Please stand by your plot and give all the names of everyone who lived there including children.”
The City of Cape Town’s (COCT) Disaster Risk Management and the Human Settlements Directorate teams are urging residents in informal settlements and in its Community Residential Units (CRU) to be extra vigilant over the summer fire season.
According to the COCT, the summer fire season comes with heat and strong winds, which holds great risk for fires occurring and spreading rapidly, especially in densely populated informal settlements where there are often no firebreaks or access ways for emergency services.
Also Read:
Picture: Jonathan Mills