A fire ripped through the SST Section of Town Two, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, in the early hours of Sunday morning, resulting in the loss of two lives and the displacement of at least 25 individuals.
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According to News24, Jermaine Carelse, the spokesperson for the City’s Fire & Rescue Service, reported that the distress call was received shortly after midnight. Fire crews from Khayelitsha, Lansdowne, Macassar and Bellville were swiftly dispatched to the scene to combat the blaze.
Carelse stated that by 2am, firefighters had successfully contained and extinguished the fire, which had destroyed seven informal structures and forced approximately 25 people out of their homes.
‘Just after 2am, firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the blaze that destroyed seven informal structures and left an estimate of 25 people displaced,’ said Carelse.
Two individuals reportedly lost their lives due to severe burn injuries. Carelse revealed that their bodies were discovered amidst the debris.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and the South African Police Service has taken over the investigation of the scene.
Ndithini Leon Tyhido, the chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum, expressed his grievances to News24, highlighting that the two deceased individuals were among many residents on a waiting list for housing assistance from the City. Tyhido emphasised that these fatalities could have been prevented if the City of Cape Town had demonstrated a greater commitment to preserving the lives of black residents.
Tyhido said, ‘These deaths could have been avoided had the City of Cape Town taken an interest in saving black lives.’
News24 stated that efforts to obtain comments from the police regarding the incident have been unsuccessful, but that their response will be included once received.
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Picture: Connor Betts / Unsplash
