Ten shacks burnt to the ground
“The affected families lost all their belongings in the fire. If you have blankets, clothes, building material or even furniture that you can donate please do so.”
KwaThema – Residents of Mkhancwa informal settlement are trying to rebuild their lives after 10 shacks burnt to the ground on Saturday evening.
It is alleged somebody left a primus stove in a shack unattended and a fire started. Within minutes it spread to other shacks nearby.
Ward 74 committee member Tozana Qethuka says it is alleged the residents of the shack where the fire started were cooking on a paraffin primus stove.
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“The man decided to go to the nearby store, leaving the stove unattended. Upon his return, he found the shack on fire.ALSO READ:
“The heavy winds contributed heavily to the fire spreading to neighbouring shacks.
“The residents tried to put out the fire but it was too much to contain, we were only able to stop it from spreading to the other homes,” she says.
Ward 74 councillor Thulane Simelane says they have tried to rebuild some of the damaged shacks on Sunday with the help of volunteers.
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“Local residents donated second-hand building materials of which we were able to build a one-room shack for each affected household.
“The municipality offered each family two blankets, groceries and a mattress,” he says.
Simelane urged residents who are interested in helping the affected families to come forward.
“The affected families lost all their belongings in the fire. If you have blankets, clothes, building material or even furniture that you can donate please do so,” he says.
