People of Pipeline settlements need donations

Pipeline Informal Settlement in Bloubosrand was engulfed in flames on 9 October.

The fire started at around 1 pm.

There were no serious injuries sustained other than a few residents treated for smoke inhalation. It was alleged that the cause of the fire is an unattended paraffin stove.

Fire marshals are still unable to confirm this.

Roosevelt Park and Randburg fire stations where on scene, working with the community to put out the fires.

Fires were extinguished simultaneously, as one was under control, others ignited due to exploding gas bottles.

Johannesburg Water Depot in Randburg, along with Ward 115 Councillor Chris Santana organised water tanks to be filled in order to assist the fire engines as fire hydrants were too far.

Ward 96 councillor Matume Mafukwane comments, “The residents need donations in terms of blankets, kitchen items and especially building materials.”

The point of collection is at Judah Africa Church on Agnes Avenue in conjunction with Impact Africa distributing all the meals.

Animals rights groups have called for donations of animal food to help the displacement of the animals.

Mafukwane said that this is not the first time Pipeline Informal Settlement has caught fire, about four months ago another less severe fire erupted in the settlement.

Eyewitnesses on 9 October said, ”We saw the fire running along the floor when the fire had only started the opposite side [of the settlement].”

Mafukwane has suggested, ”The cause of this fire may have started with a stove being unattended, but a possible reason for the spreading of the fire could be due to the illegal connections,” he has contacted City Power on previous occasions to address this problem.

David Makoni, manager of Randburg City Power responded, ”Nobody has reported this claim to me, we cut off the power supply to the settlement after the first fire, there has been no request to remove any illegal connections.”

He adds, ”Revenue Protection was contacted on 9 October to address this matter and mobilise their team to remove the connections.”

There is evidence of apparent illegal connections throughout, one possible connection is in Zone B, feeding illegal power.

The wires are buried below the surface although on 9 October during the aftermath of the fire, it seems the wires that were previously used for the illegal connections have been completely removed.

The Department of Home Affairs arrived with a mobile home to issue residents with new documentation – all fees were waived.

Red Ants from the Department of Housing on 13 October at 10.30am, ”They have arrived with four trucks packed with building material. The goal proposed by NEC of Housing Jacob Mamabolo is to have the residents’ houses rebuild and them re-homed by Wednesday.”

Details: Judah Africa Church, Pastor Evans Phiri, 076 463 2663; Ward 96 councillor Matume Mafukwane 084 854 4950; Ward 115 councillor Chris Santana.