At least 300 informal structures in Overcome Heights, an extension of the Capricorn township, will be coated in a fire-retardant substance over the next six months.
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The aim is to apply the product to between 300 and 350 structures, representing between 10% and 15% of the settlement. The product is meant to limit the spread of fire when it occurs and minimise the risk of injury, death and damage to infrastructure, property and the environment.
The effort will be conducted by the City of Cape Town in partnership with Mandoval Vermiculite Pty Ltd, a processor and distributor of Vermiculite-based products. The company first demonstrated its product during a simulation at the Epping fire station in 2021.
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‘We grapple with the risks of fire on a daily basis, particularly in our informal settlements, and so education and awareness have long formed part of our plans to mitigate these risks,’ says Alderman JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security. ‘This practical intervention is but one of the latest ways in which we are hoping to save lives and the overall toll that fires take on affected persons and communities at large.
‘The growth of areas of informality is an international phenomenon, and housing projects are unlikely able to keep up with the growing demand for formal housing. It is thus imperative to work towards mitigating the risk of fires in informal areas, and save lives and property in the process.’
During the pilot project, Mandoval Vermiculite Pty Ltd will provide funding, machinery and training. The Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre will employ 11 people from the local community via the Expanded Public Works Programme.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
