Four die in infernos across the city over New Year weekend
A PHILIPPI woman died on Sunday in a fire that destroyed about 300 shacks.
Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay said: “Teams were called out at 4.30am on Sunday by community members of Polar Park in Philippi. Over 300 structures burnt to the ground and nearly 1000 people were displaced. A woman perished in the fire.”
The NGO team was on site as early as 10am on Sunday to assist those who had lost their belongings.
Another fire destroyed several structures in Masiphumelele informal settlement on Saturday, killing three people.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said: “A crew from the Kommetjie fire station were the first to be dispatched. From a distance you could see the raging inferno, and we immediately called for additional resources.”
Carelse said by 6am firefighters had managed to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed many informal structures. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.
In November, the SABC reported that Cape Town mayor Geordin HillLewis visited the Masiphumelele informal settlement following the destruction of 375 shacks, which left 1800 people displaced.
At the time he said: “Where we are standing, there’s water because we are actually in a wetland right here … The permanent solution is to move people out of here and to de-densify this informal settlement completely. But as soon as we make space, more people move in … so it’s a real conundrum.”
On Friday, a fire in Dunoon displaced about 106 people, while more than 200 structures were destroyed.
Firefighters from the Milnerton fire station managed to contain the blaze in Usasaza Street.