A man died in a shack fire incident at Thabo Mbeki informal settlement in Lower Crossroads on Friday 26 August. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least seven shacks burned down and 10 people were left homeless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cause of the fire is still unknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community leader Xolile Mpepho described the condition in the area as distressful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it is one of the oldest informal settlements, the area has seen no development, mainly because it is located on private land, leaving it prone to natural disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mpepho said almost all the fire victims are now with their friends and relatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost of them are unemployed and they don\u2019t have money to buy the building material in order to rebuild their shacks. The housing backlog in the province is a serious issue that needs to be addressed,\u201d said Mpepho, adding that they already informed the deceased family which is in Crossroads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated that it is not the first time the area is gutted by fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mpepho said people are generally living in fear of losing their lives. \u201cThere is little that the City is doing in terms of developing the area. I have been staying here for more than 20 years and I can\u2019t remember when was the last time people from this community were relocated to the new houses,\u201d said Mpepho. He appealed to the City of Cape Town to provide them with houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The City responded by saying that the Western Cape Government\u2019s Southern Corridor project is planned for the area and asked City Vision<\/span> to approach the provincial Human Settlements department for comment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Provincial police spokesperson Capt Frederick Van Wyk said Nyanga police have opened an inquest docket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter the fire was extinguished the body of a 37-year-old man was found. According to reports he was alone in his shack during the incident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cause of the fire is unknown,\u201d said Van Wyk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A man died in a shack fire incident at Thabo Mbeki informal settlement in Lower Crossroads on Friday 26 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