A raging fire that ripped through Sun City in Sir Lowry’s Pass on Sunday (3 April), left four homes gutted and nine people displaced.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services, confirmed no injuries or fatalities were reported following the blaze, which broke out in Allen Way around 20:09.
“Altogether 27 firefighters from Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Somerset West, Macassar, Khayelitsha and Gugulethu were dispatched to the scene in five fire engines and a water tanker,” said Carelse. “The cause of the fire remains unknown.”
One of the fire victims, Nontathu Nxelewa, recalled her family narrowly escaping a fiery death. She and her 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter managed to flee their fire-engulfed home through the back door in the nick of time. “I have been living here in Sun City for 14 years,” said the devastated mom. “We lost everything in the fire. We have nothing left except the clothes on our backs.”
Nxelewa and her children are currently being accommodated by her employer, Nomsa Moeketsi, who operates a day care located in Mataung Street.
Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell confirmed the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) had been tasked with offering humanitarian assistance to the nine people left destitute following the blaze, which destroyed four informal structures.
According to Norman McFarlane, Ward 84 Councillor, an appeal was put out to the Helderberg community to assist the affected families with necessities to rebuild their lives and homes.
“The response so far has been heartwarming,” he related.
McFarlane said food hampers, blankets and pillows were collected from the Thomas House of Hope. Donations of clothing were arranged by Life Church pastor and Somerset West Night and Family shelters director Jo Swart, and passed on to an appointed relief coordinator in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village for distribution among the affected families according to need.
While the basin has proven true as one that rallies together in times of need, the greatest challenge for the fire victims are rebuilding their homes and getting materials for this purpose.
Said McFarlane: “A change in housing policy means starter kits are no longer available to the victims of shack fires. I’m further appealing to the community to assist wherever they can with building materials such as corrugated iron, timber, board, nails and screws, tarpaulins and so on. It was raining when I visited the families, and the area will soon be a quagmire. It will only get worse as winter approaches.”
He further implored the community to continue reacting swiftly to fires, which often wreak havoc, by alerting the City’s Emergency Services Call Centre on 021 840 7700. By doing so a coordinated response can be rapidly activated.
McFarlane also commended the fire service for the speedy response, which prevented further damage.
“They, like all our firefighters, are a credit to the City of Cape Town, and a fine example of how our emergency services personnel unfailingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect the community.”
V Locals willing and able to offer assistance or make donations, can contact McFarlane on 063 846 3192 or send an email to his assistant at Elani.Vermaak@capetown.gov.za.
