UPDATE: 20 June 2014, 4pm – The residents who lost their home’s to the shack fire are rebuilding their shacks in Alexandra. City officials say that shelters are filled to capacity at the moment and there is no where else to house the residents, however, blankets, soup and rice have been provided for the residents.
One of the victim’s, Simon Mpiliso, said, “I have lost everything in my home. The items that i lost were valued at R7 000.”
Sbusiso Khumalo who has lived there for the past 15 years said, “Everything has been destroyed, after many years of working hard to obtain these items, they are all gone now. The items were worth about R8,000.”
UPDATE: 20 June 2014, 10am –
Victims of a fire that razed down eight shacks to ashes yesterday spent the evening with friends as alternative accommodation was being sought for them.
The fire which happened in a disused factory in Kew, ward 76 along Vincent Tshabalala avenue and across from 3th Avenue Alexandra resulted from a paraffin stove lit by a school child igniting a bed and quickly spreading and destroying the shacks.
Sandiswa Sokweleti a trainee security guard who stayed in one of the shacks with her sister said they lost all their property including a fridge, clothing, school and birth certificates, bank cards and identity documents.
“Even though some some of the residents tried to douse the flames with support of the emergency management services(fire department) of the city , the fire was unstoppable due to a breeze,” she said.
Another victim Simon Mpiliso who does piece jobs and stayed alone said he lost a bed, wardrobe, cupboard, luggage and his identity document.
Sbusiso Khumalo who has been at the place for 15 years said he lost all his possessions and didn’t know where and how to start afresh.
Officials had gathered details of the damage by the evening and contacting the ward councillor for the victims emergency assistance.
Shack fires are common occurrences in winter in Alexandra due partly to poor constructed and overcrowded shacks, lack of electricity resulting in residents using unsafe methods to light fires. The city conducts fire safety campaigns beginning of winter as preventative strategy.Its most recent campaign was just last month where they expressed a wish for less fires this year, yet two have already destroyed people’s property when the winter season has just started. in the recent fire no one was injured.
What can be done to stop shack fires?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweet us @AlexNewsZA
Add Alex News on BBM for the latest hard hitting news in your community. PIN: 29CA3017
Initial report: 19 June 2014, 14:46pm – Eight shacks have been burnt to the ground in Alexandra earlier today near a factory on Vincent Tshabalala Road.
It is believed that the fire was started by a child who was using a paraffin stove. The residents claim they have lost many of their belongings in the fire such as ID documents, all of their clothing, food items and blankets too keep them warm through the winter, amoung other things.
By the time the fire department arrived at the scene, they managed to put the fire out but the shacks had already been burnt to the ground.
Emergency officials are assessing the losses and will determine where the residents will be homed.
Updates to follow.
What can be done to stop shack fires?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweet us @AlexNewsZA
Add Alex News on BBM for the latest hard hitting news in your community. PIN: 29CA3017
