NEARLY 100 families have been left homeless following a raging fire at Sim Place informal settlement in Effingham on Monday.
On Monday 7 April at about 4.55am the Greenwood Park Police responded to a call out of a fire at the Sim Place informal settlement, Effingham.
When the station’s communications officer, Lt Elvis Naidoo, arrived at the scene it was found that about 100 shacks were razed to the ground when a fire ripped through the through the informal settlement that houses men, women and children. No one was injured or killed.
“Metro Fire and Rescue Department (uMhlanga), divisional commissioner, DC Kanniappen, and his team were in attendance. All shacks were completely destroyed including residents personal belongings and property.
“Metro Disaster Management are coordinating relief aid for the residents. Rodgers Duma, a leader in the informal settlement, said that the fire could have been caused by an illegal electrical connection. Commissioner Eugene Nzama of Metro Police was also in attendance to assess damage,” Lt Naidoo added.
Residents are in urgent need of meals, non-perishable food items, clothing, blankets, bedding, kitchen utensils and materials to reconstruct their dwellings. Contact Lt Naidoo on 031 571 6521.
