After a fire burned down 29 homes at the Msawawa Informal Settlement on 13 June, help came to those in need.
A coordinated relief effort was lead by Judah Africa Community Development in partnership with the Douglasdale SAPS, CPF, Ward 96 councillor Mafokwane Matome, Food Bank and community leaders. The fire was caused by a brawl between two men. It left 29 people homeless and affected 70 people, 11 of whom are children.
The need for an organised form of relief came after the devastating fires that raged through Kya Sand Informal Settlement in October last year.
During a meeting held on 14 June a two-day relief plan was devised with each organisation playing their role.
‘Sugar’, a community leader of Mswawa, and Matome created a distribution list, which helped sort out those most in need.
Carla-Lee Kamp of Judah Africa Community Development said, “The disaster management team coordinated the relief group and mobilised within the first 12 hours of the incident.”
“Douglasdale SAPS was involved in every single step, which is so important, as we need to work together to run an effective disaster relief management,” added Kamp.
The relief group managed to distribute 140 dinners on 14 June, 70 dinners for 15 June and 70 breakfasts on the morning of 16 June. “We believe that our involvement helped strengthen our relationship with the community. We worked with them while they were in need. It doesn’t matter whether they are from an informal settlement or from the more affluent areas, they are part of our community,” said Douglasdale SAPS Station Commander Brigadier Letti Hugo.
