Cape Town - On Monday morning residents of Masiphumelele were rebuilding their homes with whatever they could find after they lost everything in a fierce blaze on Sunday that left thousands in the area homeless.
Two people died in the blaze. At least 4 500 people were displaced and one more person died in blazes across the Peninsula this weekend.
When the Cape Argus visited Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek, on Monday morning, survivors were trying to piece together what they could to start rebuilding their homes.
However, some residents complained that they are still waiting for the City of Cape Town to provide them with starter kits so they can rebuild properly.
Resident Nozuko Sikhuni said: “We are not going to wait for the city. They are taking too long to bring what we need. We are going to straighten up what we have and rebuild.”
She said she had to ask friends for a place to sleep for her children and herself. Others spent the night at a local community hall.
MEC for Human Settlement Bonginkosi Madikizela was in the area to assess the situation. “It’s always tragic when there’s fires, it’s one of those unfortunate incidents. We have been engaging with the community.
“The problem we have is people are not agreeing on the structures we must build for them.” He said the reason people were not in agreement was that some of them would have to be moved to other parts of Masiphumulele.
Yesterday, residents said they needed to start from scratch with just weeks to go to Christmas. One resident, Nosimilo Mani, who was close to one of the victims, Thembisa Jerry, who had died in the fire, said: “Thembisa was a very respectful person who loved her work, I have known her for
a very long time and she was like a daughter to me. I will miss her very much.”
Another resident, Precious Mpahlwa, said she lost everything. “I’m left with what I’m wearing. I lost everything. The fire was so strong that I could not save anything.”
She said if they had brick houses, shack fires would not occur, adding that they were promised houses a long time ago and nothing had happened.
An angry Sive Twane said they were tired of empty promises. “We will march in order to be heard, we have been asking for houses. All politicians do is come when it’s election time and never fulfil their promises.
“Our children get sick all the time because of the way we are living, this fire has even killed people. We are tired.”
City fire and rescue spokesman Theo Layne said about 1 000 structures in Masiphumelele were razed, displacing about 4 000 people, and in Langa 125 structures were destroyed, leaving about 500 people destitute.
“The cause of the fires are undetermined at this stage, and we have our people monitoring the situations,” Layne said.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said police were also on the scene in Masiphumelele on Sunday. “The fire started at about 1am on Sunday morning, two bodies were found. “A post-mortem will be conducted to determine gender of the bodies…”
Van Wyk said in Langa about 100 shacks burned down at Joe Slovo informal settlement. Authorities were also still trying to establish the cause of that fire. He added that the body of a 41-year-old man had been found and an inquest case opened.
City’s disaster risk management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said relief in the form of meals, clothing and blankets had been provided to the victims of the fires by different NGOs.
MEC for Social Development Albert Fritz said: “Of greatest concern is the seeming rise in the number and severity of incidents of fires at informalsettlements. The department has dispatched social workers to provide trauma counselling, especially to the relatives of the deceased.
“We are appealing to the public to assist by donating what they can to our teams on the ground.”
Pick n Pay spokeswoman Tamra Veley said: “We have placed donation trolleys in our stores in Long Beach, Tokai, Fish Hoek, and Constantia for those who wish to donate non-perishable food and clothing to those who have lost so much.
“We have also donated R20 000… and are working with city disaster management to make sure that those who need help are assisted as swiftly as possible.”
Cape Argus