Cape Town - At least 10 people were killed in three separate fires in Cape Town’s informal settlements on Saturday which left thousands of people displaced.
Three people died in the blaze that broke out in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, in the early hours of on Saturday morning.
By midday, almost 12 hours after the fire had broken out, firefighters were still battling the blaze, assisted by firefighting helicopters.
Community leaders blamed the provincial government and the City of Cape Town for the disaster, which they said was the worst since 2004.
According to residents, the three victims, a couple and their toddler child, were killed in Dontse-Yakhe section.
Police have confirmed the deaths and said an investigation was under way.
Reports of a fourth victim could not be immediately confirmed with the police.
The fire ripped through the dense informal settlement, leaving thousands of shacks burnt to the ground and many families homeless.
It is not known yet what caused the fire.
Although no official figure of the number of homes that were destroyed could be obtained, devastated residents estimated the number to be close to 4 000.
Fire engines were dispatched to the scene but soon ran out of water and battled for hours to put out the fire.
The houses are also built on a steep slope, and there are no pathways between the homes, making it difficult for the teams to reach the area.
The city’s mayoral committee member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, Xanthea Limberg, said water used to douse the fire was drawn from the Disa River and the ocean and would not have an impact on the current water supply shortages.
But angry residents said the efforts were very little and came too late.
Yandisa Buqe said by the time the first fire engine arrived, residents had used buckets of water to try to save their homes, belongings and lives.
“The helicopters only arrived this morning,” he said.
Families and friends from nearby settlements rallied to help loved ones. But tempers flared when it was evident that the fire would carry on for longer and some had lost all they had.
Councillor Bheki Hadebe said the city had dragged its feet since 2007 in providing houses to the families.
He said three sites had been identified for a housing project for the residents but building operations were delayed due to the occupation of the site.
Hadebe said the budget for the project had also been cut from an initial R6 million to only R1.6m which meant that not even 1000 houses would now be built.
In two other fires, four people - two adults and two children - were killed in Wesbank near Belhar on the Cape Flats and in Kosovo, near Philippi, three people - all men - were killed.
Police said an investigation into the cause of the fires was under way.
Aid organisation, Gift of the Givers is assisting the fire victims in Imizamo Yethu with humanitarian aid.
Head of the organisation, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said they were doing everything they could to assist but appealed for donations in the form of water, hot meals, food parcels, blankets, tents, clothing, building material, hygiene packs and other essentials.
“Gift of the Givers is co-ordinating with the relevant authorities to provide water and meals to the victims and will provide humanitarian aid in days to come,” he said.
The city has also appealed to citizens to open their hearts and donate non-perishable goods, baby nappies, baby formula and clothing.