At least 25 shacks at RR section in Site B, Khayelitsha burned down and left more than 70 people homeless this morning. The cause of the fire is unknown at this moment.
Shack fire victim Phaphama Vikilahle (34) said the shack fire started around 08:00 just after the children went to school. She said the flames came out from one of her neighbour’s shacks.
“The fire started in the fourth shack from mine. I don’t know if there was anybody inside. I was unable to take out all my belongings because the flames spread so fast. And it was difficult to go between the shacks because everyone was running up and down,” said Vikilahle.
She said she doesn’t know where she is going to sleep.
Ward 89 councillor Khayalethu Gxasheka said they are busy assessing the situation. He said he requested City officials and other humanitarian organisations to assist the shack fire victims.
“We are still doing an assessment. Most of the shack owners were at work when the fire started. We are still waiting for everyone to come back so that we can get a full report. Currently we have 25 shacks affected and 76 people left homeless,” he said.
Gxasheka emphasised that the will not open a community hall at this stage.
