Merely weeks after a devastating fire destroyed hundreds of structures, more than 1 000 residents lost their homes in yet another fire that raged through the Masiphumelele informal settlement.
Sonica Lategan, disaster risk management officer at the City of Cape Town, said around 375 structures were destroyed in the fire on Monday 21 November.
“The Disaster Risk Management Centre can confirm that 375 structures were destroyed in the fire in Z section, with 1 102 individuals affected.
“No fatalities or injuries to people have been reported.
“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.”
Lategan added that the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) would be providing matrasses, blankets, vanity packs and baby packs to the affected individuals.
Meanwhile, in a statement, JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, said fire and rescue services yet again faced adverse community action while attending to the fire.
“Before midday, our crews attended to the emergency call of structures alight in the Masiphumelele informal settlement.
“Response crews arrived and attempted to intercept the path of the fire from reaching additional structures, but the hostile crowds threatened firefighters and seized their hose lines, in a futile attempt to extinguish burning structures that were already well advanced in the inferno.
“Desperate residents then took to stabbing the pressurized hoses, trying to gather water for their own hopeful attempts. With law enforcement unable to retain order as chaos resumed, the flames spread into the wetlands towards Lake Michelle.”
Smith 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.
“Sadly today, this was not the case. Respect emergency personnel, for them to save the day. Protect emergency personnel, for them to save tomorrow.”
