A total of 13 shacks were gutted when a fire broke out at Taiwan informal settlement, in Site C in Khayelitsha on Saturday 18 February. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire is the latest in a series of shack fires that broke out around Cape Town since the start of the summer season. The cause of the fire is unknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to reports, 43 people were left destitute and are now demanding houses. They say the area is unsafe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victim Abulele Tatsi said they are still shocked by the incident. She said she was at her neighbour\u2019s shack when the fire started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI heard people outside screaming fire-fire. We went out to see it. We saw big flames and were accompanied by wind. I ran to my shack and took out a few bags with my clothes, my television and microwave,\u201d said Tatsi, adding that she is currently staying with her cousin in A section in Site C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire is not the first for the area according to her, and they were fortunate not to record any injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2018, eight family members died in a shack fire. And in 2020, the other two family members also lost their lives in a similar incident. Life in the shacks is difficult. You can\u2019t buy expensive stuff when you are staying in a shack because anything can happen anytime,\u201d she stated, appealing to the government to build them houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama described the incident as terrible citing that he tried to mobilise all community stakeholders to assist the shack fire victims with whatever they had. Kama described the issue of housing development in the area as unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe area was established in 1990, but there is little development happening. We\u2019ve seen other areas around Taiwan being developed and people getting houses. We are in talks with the provincial Human Settlements department about the development of Taiwan,\u201d said Kama, adding that they wanted the department to speed up the processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The director of communication and stakeholder Relations in the Human Settlement Department Nathan Adriaanse said the department had numerous engagements with the Taiwan community, the last such meeting was in October last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe community is aware that we have a number of statutory processes which we need to follow. One of these processes is to obtain Development Rights from the City of Cape Town. Typically to obtain development rights could take up to 9 months from the date of application. We can confirm that the Department of Human Settlements has submitted development plans to the City of Cape Town in August 2022 to acquire Development Rights,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adriaanse stated, at this stage, the department expected the Approval of Development Rights to be issued in June next year. He said should the department obtain the approval, it would then be in a position to prepare detailed design and commencement in terms of the procurement process to appoint contractors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adriaanse stated that the department became involved in the development of Taiwan as of August 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Department had undertaken a three-year (2018 to 2021) planning process to acquire development rights. The impact of Covid-19 which took hold of our country in March 2020 resulted in delays beyond the control of the department. Now the Provincial Department is working with the City of Cape Town to ensure that we can see the Taiwan Development become a reality,\u201d said Adriaanse. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A total of 13 shacks were gutted when a fire broke out at Taiwan informal settlement, in Site C, on Saturday 18 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