Shack fire victims in KTC are demanding houses after their shacks burned into ashes on Monday 26 May in Section 6 area. At least 36 shacks were destroyed and 94 people left homeless. There are no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Victim Bulelwa Tolofiya said the fire started at around 22:00. She said she heard people outside screaming “fire, fire!” and when she went to investigate she saw a huge flame.
“I was already sleeping when the shack fire started. I heard people shouting outside ‘fire… fire’. Immediately, I jumped out of bed and took my gown and put it on. I woke up my children who were sleeping on the floor before I went outside to assess the situation,” said Tolofiya, adding that the fire started not too far from her shack.
The 47-year-old mother of two said she managed to take out a bag with clothes and blankets. She said all the other stuff caught fire. She said now is facing a mammoth task to rebuild her shack.
“All we need are proper houses. I have been staying here for 21 years. There is little development in the area. I don’t know when was the last time the City relocated people from this area,” she said.
KTC South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) committee member Lumkile Msila described the incident as terrible. He appealed to local organisations to come on board to assist with whatever possible.
“It’s not the first time such an incident has happened in KTC. Last year in April, a similar incident occurred at Section 4 where more than 30 shacks were destroyed by the shack fire. All we need is for the City to give people houses. People are dying in the shacks,” said Msila.
Ward 38 councillor Suzanne Zumana said she informed the City and Gift of the Givers about the incident.
“According to the information that we have now, only 36 shacks have been affected and 94 people left destitute. We are still going to verify it. We are appealing to the community to contribute with whatever they have to assist the shack fire,” said Zumana. She stated that the issue of houses is not clear for now. When City Vision visited the area on Tuesday 27 May the City officials and Eskom employees were there assessing the damage. The victims were busy clearing their plots.
