More than 40 people were left homeless when the fire broke out in Kanana informal settlement, Gugulethu, on Wednesday 26 October. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the residents, the fire was started by a \u201cjealous boyfriend\u201d. It is alleged that he set the shack on fire after he discovered that the girlfriend was not home when he visited her in the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the fire victims, who named herself as Wewe for fear of victimisation, said they are facing a mammoth task to rebuild their shacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She appealed to local businesspeople to help them with food and clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is tough now. I have nothing left. The shack fire started at about 20:00 and at that time I was at my friend\u2019s place in Barcelona. I received a call from one of my friends in Kanana informing me that there was a shack fire. I ran all the way to my shack and when I arrived it was already down,\u201d said Wewe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like the majority of the victims, she currently lives with her friend in Barcelona. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOther people managed to rebuild their shacks. But the majority of us are struggling to rebuild them because we are unemployed,\u201d she stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gugulethu police spokesperson Sgt Sindisiwe Ngqele said an arson case was opened and the police are investigating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ngqele confirmed that the incident was connected to domestic violence. However, she declined to elaborate on the allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n