GALLERY and VIDEO: Disaster management team attends to Kya Sand fire
KYA SAND – Families affected by the fire in Kya Sand need donations and help.
A fire raged at the Pipeline Informal Settlement in Kya Sand after an apparent love spat.
During the late hours of the evening on 10 August a fire erupted in the informal settlement. Residents tore down neighbouring shacks in order to stop the fire from spreading. In total 36 shacks were destroyed, displacing about 111 adults and children.
Judah Africa Pastor Evans Phiri said, “We are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. At this point our main concern is helping the people that were affected.” He added that emergency services had trouble reaching the fire due to the close proximity of the shacks.
According to rumours the fire was caused by a lovers’ quarrel. Ward 96 councillor Matome Mafokwane said, “Apparently, a woman found her lover with another person and then set the place alight.” It seems that according to residents and Judah Africa Community Development (JACD), the fire was caused by a ‘domestic dispute’ involving either a candle or a paraffin stove.
Joburg Emergency Management Services Nana Radebe said, “On their arrival at 11.45pm more than twenty shacks were destroyed. At this time the cause of incident could not be identified. Our disaster management team helped with relief in terms of food.”
JACD in conjunction with Vukuzenzela, Food Bank, Douglasdale SAPS and others formally met in the morning on 11 August. They discussed, “[There are] humanitarian efforts with multiple stakeholders assisting. JACD Community Kitchen will serve dinner on 11 August, and breakfast and dinner on 12 August.
Requests for food donations to be delivered to the JACD kitchen are: mielie meal, cabbage, soup packets, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, oil and bread.
Details: Carla-Lee Kamp of Judah Africa 082 680 9671.
