\u201cWe need houses. We are tired of staying in the shacks,\u201d bemoaned a bitter fire victim, Lindiwe Hobongwana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is one of the more than 80 people who were left homeless when a raging inferno ravaged Thabo Mbeki informal settlement on New Year\u2019s day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least 20 shacks were destroyed by the fire at the D section. The cause of the fire remains a mystery. Residents are now appealing to government to intervene and build them proper houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A despondent Hobongwana said she lost everything in a fire. \u201cThe fire started just after the shots when people were celebrating a new year. I was sleeping at that time. I heard people outside shouting fire-fire. When I opened the door my neighbour\u2019s shack was already engulfed with flames,\u201d said Hobongwana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said she went back into her shack to wake up her children. Soon the shack was covered in flames. \u201cI lost everything in the fire including my identity documents. We are left with the clothes that we were wearing that night,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Hobongwana, it is the first time in 22 years that the area experienced shack fire. \u201cI\u2019ve been here since 1999 and there is little development that is happening in Thabo Mbeki. We need houses. We are tired of staying in the shacks,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community leader Buzwe Kali described the conditions in the area as appalling. He said most fire victims are struggling to rebuild their shacks because they don\u2019t have resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terrible. People have cleaned their sites but they can\u2019t rebuild their shacks because they don\u2019t have the material. Other victims are staying with friends and family members in other areas. There are people who are still in the Eastern Cape for festive holidays who lost their belongings,\u201d said Kali. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He described the area as one of the impoverished communities in the metro. He said there are various non government organisations that have assisted the victims with food. He stated that the issue of new housing in the area is still unclear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe area is part of the Airport Precinct Housing Project. The housing construction was supposed to begin early 2020 but there was an outbreak of Covid-19 and everything had to stop. Since then we are still waiting from the government officials about the way forward,\u201d said Kali. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He appealed to local business people to come forward and support the fire victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muneera Allie, spokespeson for the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, confirmed that the area is part of the airport housing project. She said the department recently received approval to proceed with the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConstruction is planned to take place in June 2023. Subject to approval of municipal engineering service drawings and building plans. The Thabo Mbeki project steering committee (PSC) which includes community representatives has been part of processes and informed of project progress,\u201d she said, adding that the next PSC meeting to provide an update is expected to take place towards the end of the month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allie stated that the project will be done in two construction phases and will provide approximately 1 400 housing opportunities for local residents. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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