Shack fire victims from ward 86 in Lwandle were exhilarated at receiving the building material contributed by the Department of Human Settlement today(Friday 23 January).
At least 51 people from various informal settlements in the Ward 86 were beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were gathered at Siyahlala informal settlement to collect their building material.
Each person received zinc (16), poles (six), rafters (six), packet of nails (two), padlock, latch and hinges. The shack fire incidents occurred in different areas in the ward last year.
Some of the shack dwellers affected were Silahliwe (31 people), Wag ‘n Bietjie (seven people), Pholile (six people) and Simanyene (seven people). One beneficiary, Kwanele Manxila, said he was happy at receiving the new building material and was going to extend his shack.
“My shack is so small. There’s no privacy. Now I’ll build a bedroom. I was about to give up thinking we would ever get it.” He expressed his gratitude to the ward councillor for being there for them during the hard time.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso said the aim is to ensure that everyone has a decent place to stay. He stated that the material is contributed by the national Department of Human Settlement. He said all these shack fire incidents in these areas occurred last year. He said both at Silahliwe and Pholile the shack fire incidents occurred in November last year. While at Wag ‘n Bietjie and Simanyene occurred in September last year as well.
“We are apologising to the community for taking so long to bring the material. We are hoping that it will make a difference to them. We are pleading to the community, especially the shack dwellers, to ensure that they switch off all the electric appliances when they are going out to avoid shack fire incidents.”
