Another fire has torn through the Masiphumelele informal settlement last week, and according to News 24, has left more than 1,000 residents without homes.
Disaster risk management officer at the City of Cape Town, Sonica Lategan, said around 375 structures were destroyed in the fire, which took place on Monday 21 November.
Lategan clarified that no fatalities or injuries to people have been reported, but that 1,102 individuals were affected.
“Gift of the Givers and the Care Company provided meals to the affected community, while Living Hope set up soup kitchens in the area, with the assistance of the Ocean View Mosque.”
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will be providing necessities to the affected people, including mattresses, blankets and toiletries.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, said that the fire and rescue services struggled against the community while attending to the fire.
When responders arrived at the scene, Smith explains, they tried to intercept the fire but were blocked by hostile crowds who allegedly threatened the firefighters and seized their hoses.
The residents were desperately trying to extinguish parts of the fire that were deep into the blaze and already damaged, in an attempt to save their homes.
With the chaos hindering efforts to control the fire, the flames spread into the wetlands towards Lake Michelle.
In response to how the events of the fire unfolded, Smith has called on residents and leaders to respect emergency personnel.
“Firefighting is an art, a special skill of which graduates spend much time learning, qualifying for, then regularly practicing as they hone such skills.”
“When teams arrive on a scene, if communities are compliant and allow members to perform the task, such loss can be significantly reduced and avoided,” he continued.
“Sadly today, this was not the case. Respect emergency personnel, for them to save the day. Protect emergency personnel, for them to save tomorrow.”
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Picture: News24
