- Following a fire that destroyed 40 shacks in Khayelitsha’s Taiwan informal settlement, local organisations provided essential donations including building materials, food parcels, and blankets.
- The fire victims expressed their gratitude for the assistance, which is helping them rebuild their lives.
- Support came from groups like United in Crisis, Gift of the Givers, and the Department of Social Development.
Fire victims from Taiwan informal settlement in Site C were exhilarated after they received building material, food parcels, mattresses and blankets on Tuesday 23 October donated by various organisations.
At least 40 shacks burned down on Sunday 20 October, leaving scores of people homeless.
Some of the items that were donated are blankets, building material, mattresses and food parcels.
One of the fire victims Nolwando Njenjese expressed her gratitude to all the organisations that supported them citing that their donation would make a difference.
“I’m happy now that I have basic things. I will be able to rebuild my shack. I was squatting in my sister’s shack within the area,” said Njenjese.
Needy
She described their living conditions as terrible.
Another victim Masibulele Manjanza said he lost all his belongings in the fire.
The 49-year-old man said he struggled to rebuild his shack because he was unemployed.
Siyabonga Doyle, sector leader of United in Crisis, said they felt the need to assist the fire victims.
United in Crisis SA is a non profit organisation for church leaders in Khayelitsha. It was established to assist the needy people.
Doyle said they donated building material and food parcels. “We donated seven corrugated iron, 18 poles, a window, two bags of nails per house per person. And we also donated food parcels,” said Doyle.
He said they aim to support and revive the victim’s spirit. “We want to show them that they are not alone. And we are saying even in this hard time God will never leave them,” he stated.
Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama also thanked all the organisations that came forward to support the victims.
“There are many organisations that showed their support to the victims. They include Gift of the Givers, who donated 46 mattresses and hot meals, Department of Social Development with hot meals, blankets and mattresses, United in Crisis with building material and food parcels and also Shoprite with hot meals,” he counted and appealed to other organisations to come forward.
He stated that some of the victims have already started rebuilding their shacks while others are still staying with their friends and family members.
