Gallery and Video: Fire destroys shacks in Msawawa
KYA SAND – More than 200 families were left destitute after a raging fire gutted their shacks at Msawawa Informal Settlement.
Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) could not identify the cause of the fire that gutted more than 300 shacks in Msawawa Informal Settlement on 11 November.
EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe said that over 200 shacks were destroyed and the cause of the fire could not be determined.
“Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported. Disaster management has made arrangements for displaced people,” Radebe said.
At least four fire trucks were at the scene with firefighters trying to extinguish the fire although they could not get inside as the shacks were built too close to each other.
Radebe further explained that they are waiting for the Department of Housing to provide them with the accurate number of shacks that were burned down in the settlement.
Also Read: BREAKING NEWS: Msawawa Informal Settlement in flames.
Some of the residents alleged that the fire was caused by a group of people who were conducting rituals in one of the shacks.
“Those people lit candles in their shack as they were praying. The shack caught fire which raged swiftly,” said a resident who wished not to be named.
Ward 96 Councillor Matome Mafokwane explained that it was established that a certain woman left her paraffin stove burning.
“Apparently she was cooking and went out to get tomatoes and on her way back she stopped and started talking to others. She then realised that her shack was on fire,” he explained.
The fire which spread quickly from shack to shack left most residents homeless. Some of the residents managed to get their belongings and move them to an open space while others could only watch as the blaze gutted their homes.
Councillor Mafokwane said some of the residents slept at Judah Afrika Church and others slept in the open space with their possessions.
“Other residents refused to go to the church and inisisted that they did not want criminals to steal their stuff,” he added.
Secretary of Kya Sand and Msawawa Association, Ephraim Lifua said the MEC for Human Settlements and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo visited the area last night.
“The MEC promised that the department would get building material urgently to assist the displaced residents,” said Lifua.
He concluded that Gift of the Givers and other organisations were also coming on board to help them.
Details: Joburg EMS, 011 758 9540; Ward 96 Councillor Matome Mafokwane, 084 854 4950.
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