1 dead, 17 homes destroyed in Western Cape informal settlement fire

One person died in a horrific fire that razed 17 informal structures to the ground in Zone 7 in Thembalethu in the Western Cape early on Saturday morning.

The police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies says an inquest docket was opened after human remains were retrieved from the debris.

“The deceased is yet to be identified through DNA.”

The families that escaped lost all their belongings. Black stains on the walls of houses around the destroyed structures are evidence of flames that licked at neighbouring properties that could have suffered the same fate, had it not been for the George Fire Brigade’s fast reaction.

The fire started sometime after midnight. Councillor Thembinkosi Lento says he received a call from a resident reporting the fire at 00:50 and immediately alerted the George Fire Brigade. They were on the scene within minutes. “The problem was there is not an access road to the site where the fire had broken out.”

Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, the senior communications officer at the municipality, says the distance of the site from the nearest access road forced the firefighters to run out the fire hoses up to 300m.

“The response time of the fire brigade was impressive; the fire department received the call at 00:48, dispatched the fire brigade resources at 00:52, and the first engine arrived on the scene at 00:56.”

Mangqwengqwe says in addition to the one deceased, 29 adults and 25 children were impacted.

“The municipality provided the All Bricks Hall, equipped with mattresses, for victims who did not have relatives or friends in the area.” By Sunday, there was nobody in the hall.

According to residents who spoke to George Herald at the site on Monday, people found lodging with neighbours and family. A grandmother, Thandokazi Puta, is one of those who escaped unscathed. She was woken by shouts of ‘Grandma, there is a fire!’ from surrounding residents, and despite a sore leg that slowed her down, she got out in time.

Another woman who lost her home, Thandeka Mangqengwana, says she was away, but there were three people in her home, one of who was the deceased.

George Mayor Jacqulique von Brandis, together with Lento and councillor Khayalethu Lose, were on site on Saturday morning to speak to the survivors. They sent out a request to the public for donations of clothing, shoes and other household items for the affected families.

There was a generous reaction from Georgians and, on Monday, Von Brandis in a statement extended her heartfelt gratitude to all who have heeded the call for donations.

“So far, we have received various clothing items, including school clothing and shoes for women, men, children, and babies. Our Community Development division, which co-ordinates the receipt and distribution of donations, also received diapers, non-perishable food, blankets, fleece blankets, and a plethora of towels.”

The donated items were distributed to the victims on Monday with Lento, Lose and councillor Thandiswa Qatana present to assist with the distribution of the items.

Lento said enough baby clothing was received, but there is still need for adult clothing, food, furniture and household equipment. The municipality said emergency housing assistance may be provided to those who qualify according to the requisite policy and depending on budget availability.