RESIDENTS of the Kenville Informal Settlement have begun rebuilding their homes following a fire which killed a woman who was eight months pregnant and left more than 400 people homeless.
The fire, which broke out just after midnight on Sunday morning (July 14), destroyed 300 informal dwellings.
While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, this is the third fire at the settlement this year.
For now, some residents are taking shelter in and sleeping in marquees put up by the eThekwini Municipality on Crow Place (Kenville).
The Human Settlements Department have also begun supplying building material for some to rebuild.
Also read: One dead, hundreds left homeless after fire rips through Kenville Informal Settlement
One resident Mbali Mthembu spoke to Northglen News about the horror of that night.
“I was awoken by a woman screaming. She was calling for help. When I came out my shack, I saw people trying to get her out, but the fire was too hot and the flames were too high to help. The fire spread quickly, and we tried to use water from the taps, but there was no water coming through. So many of us just left home with the clothes on our backs. I have yet to start building because I’m still waiting for building material, but I hope that by this week, I will have some shelter once again,” the 28-year-old said.
Vice-chairperson of the settlement Princess Daniso also bemoaned the fact that no water was available.
“In the past, we, the residents, are the first to try and put out the fire before the firefighting department arrives. At night, the reservoirs are closed because of lack of water supply, and we cannot use any water. I feel we could have potentially saved a few homes. My home was spared because I live farther down on the slopes of the bank. I feel for everyone involved, especially the young children who lost everything, including their school books and clothes,” she said.
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