The streets of Primrose glowed red in the evening light as shacks in the Makause informal settlement were burnt to the ground, last Friday.
It is claimed the evening started with residents protesting in the streets, as a result of an EMPD raid that saw several local taverns shut down.
The protest took place near the Primrose Fire Station on Pretoria Road, and saw members of the local SAPS and community patrolling groups working together to calm the tension.
Members from the Primrose Residents Against Crime (PRAC) claim the fire department would not come out and assist in riot control or put out the burning tyres.
PRAC patroller John Seaman said, “PRAC patrollers quickly assessed the situation and set up a roadblocks to redirect traffic.
“Riot control was eventually dispatched and the protesters went home.
“We then proceeded to put out the burning tyres, without the help of the fire department.
“Whilst putting out the fire, patrollers had stones thrown at them.”
A few hours later, a fire broke out within the Maukase informal settlement.
Seaman claims Makause residents stole fire equipment from firefighters and even stripped one of the trucks.
The GCN spoke to William Ntladi, the media liaison for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), who explained that DEMS received a call from the Makause informal settlement claiming a number of shacks were on fire.
“Unfortunately, the fire engine dispatched to the settlement was damaged by members of the community.
“Hoses were pulled from the fire engine, nozzles cut off and the perpetrators disappeared from the scene,” said Ntladi.
This setback hampered firefighters in their efforts to fight the blaze and a large number of shacks were destroyed.
“The interference of the community members on scene had a detrimental effect.
“We had to pull the vehicle out and get another sizeable one to drive through the informal settlement to the scene of fire.
“Initial reports showed 149 shacks were destroyed and 168 community members affected, relief aids in the way of shelter, food and blankets were offered to those affected,” Ntladi said.
In response to the claims made by PRAC, Ntladi said, “DEMS is a professional department with obligations to accomplish.
“Responding to calls is our pre-requisite and with the objective of preserving lives and property.”
Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose police, confirmed the riot earlier in the evening followed an EMPD operation in the informal settlement.
“While community members of the Makause informal settlement were burning tyres along Pretoria Road they were not aware that a fire was helping itself to their belongings nearby,” Maome said.
“Over a hundred shacks were destroyed and one life was lost as a result of the fire.”
The cause of the fire is still undetermined and investigations are underway.
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