A fast-moving fire swept through the Rasta Camp informal settlement in Sir Lowry’s Pass on the afternoon of Saturday 4 April, destroying homes and leaving dozens of residents homeless.

The emergency call was received around 14:20, reporting structures alight in the settlement. The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service responded by deploying crews from the Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Macassar and Belhar stations to combat the flames.

Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours under difficult conditions. Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that the fire was successfully contained before it could spread further.

“By 16:14, firefighters extinguished the blaze that destroyed an estimated 12 structures and left 40 persons displaced,” Carelse said. “No injuries were reported and the cause is unknown.”

While no lives were lost, the aftermath has displaced residents, many of whom lost all their belongings and claim they are being left in the cold.

Local resident Petrolene Alberts expressed the growing desperation among those affected. She noted that many families have nowhere to turn to as the winter months approach.

“The displaced need assistance and have nowhere to go,” Alberts said. “We’ve been trying to engage the City to provide temporary shelter, but we are not getting any positive response.”

Responding to the community’s concerns, the City clarified that while they provide immediate “soft relief”, the provision of housing materials falls under national jurisdiction.

Carl Pophaim, Mayoral Committee member for Human Settlements, confirmed that the City has completed its initial assessment.

“The City’s Informal Settlements Department has concluded the data verification process to confirm the number of affected households,” Pophaim explained. “The verified information has been formally submitted to the national Department of Human Settlements for consideration and assistance with the provision of building materials to the affected households.”

Pophaim added that City teams including human settlements, disaster risk management, and fire and rescue focus on data verification, soft relief (blankets, food and hygiene kits), debris clearing and safety assistance. “The national Human Settlements Department is responsible for assisting the affected residents with building kits,” Pophaim said.

“The national ministry is responsible for emergency relief and funding in terms of issuing building kits to the affected residents after fires or floods,” he said.

This week Alberts said that the community received a visit by MP Sindiswa Masumpa, who sympathised with the families and assured that government will provide some sort of assistance.

“We are still in need of building materials, food, mattresses and blankets,” said Alberts.

 She can be contacted on 071 213 5595.