Three Cape Town fires leave hundreds homeless as disaster teams respond

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) officials are scheduled to assess the damage from an overnight fire at the Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Hout Bay this Friday morning.

The fire destroyed several structures, leaving almost 200 residents homeless. According to the City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management (DRM) spokesperson, Sonica Lategan, the assessment aims to confirm the number of affected structures and people. 

This information will then be submitted to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Department of Social Development.

“We will also activate other City Departments to check for, and address any damage to City infrastructure, clear the fire debris, and coordinate efforts to help the affected residents rebuild their structures,” Lategan stated.

DRM will also engage its humanitarian relief partners to provide immediate aid to those in need.

Additionally, Gift of the Givers’ Ali Sablay confirmed their teams were also on the ground conducting assessments, having received calls from community leaders and affected residents since the early morning hours.

Sablay also noted that the Drakenstein Disaster Management Centre alerted them to a second fire, the second this week, at the Mbekweni Informal Settlement in Paarl.

“Teams remain on-site to determine the exact number of people affected there.”

Furthermore, Sablay said that Gift of the Givers teams were en route early on Friday to an active fire in Vygieskraal, Manenberg, where backyard dwelling structures were alight. Sablay stated that Gift of the Givers will be providing immediate humanitarian assistance to all three fire-affected sites.

nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za