First fire, then hail – residents deal with double disasters
First fire, then hail - informal settlement residents receive double-whammy of disasters.
Victims of Saturday’s Cleveland shack fire were in the process of rebuilding their lives when another disaster struck.
Following Saturday’s fire, in which nearly 250 shacks were burnt to the ground, a massive hailstorm followed on Monday, destroying the tents the residents were living in.
The tents were proved by the United Nations Refugee Relief Agency.
The Express’ journalist, Busi Vilakazi, was on-scene and said residents were helping each other to rebuild their lives.
The Cleveland Community Police Forum (CCPF), led by its chairperson Ms Alison Roberts, is also helping the community.
The Department of Social Development has sent social workers to assist those who lost shacks in the fire with counselling.
The department also provided a mobile daycare centre, to look after residents’ children while they try to piece their lives back together.
In addition, Shoprite has assisted residents with soup.
More departments are expected to offer assistance to the residents.
The Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson, Ms Nana Rdebe, said the cause of the Saturday’s fire was still under investigation.
One person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene and released.
Ms Radebe said residents were given tents as temporary structures after the fire.
Some of the residents slept at their neighbours’ shacks, which were not affected by the fire.
