A LITTLE over a week since a fire swept through the lower section of the Malacca Road Informal Settlement, destroying 37 homes and leaving more than 60 people homeless, residents are still struggling to rebuild and come to terms with their loss.
The fire, which started in the early hours of the morning at about 02:00 on Friday, March 17, quickly spread, engulfing many of the homes which were made up of wood and tin.
While the cause of the fire is still unknown, one person died as a result of the inferno. The woman, believed to be in her 30s, was visiting a friend at the time when the fire broke out.
The woman, who was disorientated from the thick smoke, managed to run a safe distance away but sadly stepped on an illegal connection, which electrocuted her.
She is the third person to die from electrocution due to illegal connections at the settlement since December last year.
When Northglen News visited the settlement last week, all that remained was scorched earth and charred gumpoles of what was home to 60 people.
Other residents in proximity to the blaze also had to evacuate their homes for fear it would spread, however, the quick response from the Durban North Fire Department stopped the fire from spreading.
We lost everything, says residents
Sibonelo Tshonga, who has lived at Malacca Road Informal Settlement since 2011, said he lost everything in the fire and left with just a pair of pants and shoes.
“I was sleeping inside my home when the fire started. It spread very quickly and I could hear people shouting the word ‘fire’ in isiZulu. My home was filling with smoke very quickly so I got out of bed and opened the door, and all I could see was just a wall of flames. I ran a safe distance away, and by this time, the fire had spread to my home and was enveloping it.
“I ran out of my home with just my shoes, and I managed to slip on a pair of pants. I lost everything in the fire. I’ve had to borrow clothing from some of the other residents, and they’ve helped accommodate me while we wait to rebuild our homes. It is very painful to see where my home used to be because there is nothing left, only the concrete floor and two sheets of metal,” he said.
Thabisile Mhlongo, who lost her home in the blaze, said her heart breaks for her fellow residents.
“I was at the upper half of the settlement when the fire broke out. My heart breaks because our beds, cupboards, clothes and both my children’s bags and school books were completely destroyed. I’ve been lucky that I have a place to stay in the settlement, but there are still residents who don’t have anything and are still in limbo. We hope that we can rebuild as soon as possible,” she said.
Help needed as donations come in
Durban North resident and founder of the non-profit organisation, The Seed Fund, Arianne Hayes-Hill is currently helping the residents affected by the blaze.
Hayes-Hill has a longstanding relationship with the community and uses the NPO to uplift the lives of the residents.
“There was such an outpouring of support from community members. People donated food, blankets and other items, and for three days last week, we were able to provide three meals a day. The residents are still clearing the area and salvaging what they can. I think the national shutdown and last week’s public holiday have hampered the municipality from assisting with building materials, but we are doing everything we can to help the residents. We’ve also tried to help five children who lost all of their school uniforms, bags and stationery,” she said.
Hayes-Hill added that if residents wanted to help out, they could call her on 083 440 3126.
Donations can also be dropped off at the community centre at the settlement on 7 Legacy Road.
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