At least 150 people have been left homeless after a fire devoured more than 100 shacks on Monday night at Plot 175 in Kameeldrift, north of Pretoria.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire, however, residents believe it originated in the illegal dumpsite near the shacks.
Victims, David Mhlongo and Harriet Mosehla, said strong winds blew burning material from the dumpsite to the shacks. They believed that was the actual cause of the fire.
Mhlongo said the fire began at the dumpsite around 20:30 and the wind carried burning paper to their shacks.
“My family and I lost everything, hence, I was unable to sleep the entire night. We lost food, IDs, clothing, and money, among other things,” he said, adding that all he now possesses were the clothes he was wearing.
He said he arranged that his wife slept at her friend’s house. Fortunately, their sons aged 21 and 6 and 12-year-old daughter were in Limpopo.
“Our children visit… they do not stay with us.”
Mhlongo asked concerned community members to donate anything that could ease the pain of their ordeal.
“I have not eaten, because I lost everything in the house. My last R 400 for the month was also lost in the fire.”
“The fire began to engulf the shacks after I first heard a strong wind. The only fire in the area was at the local dumpsite and when heavy winds came, it moved to our shacks. Shacks often burn down in clusters, owing to their proximity to each other,” Mosehla said.
Ward 87 councillor Freddie Pienaar expressed sadness over the catastrophe.
“This is a disaster that was not supposed to be happening,” Pienaar said.
He was however grateful for firefighters’ efforts in bringing the fire under control.
“The firefighters arrived at the scene before 22:00,” he said, adding that they responded swiftly, considering the city experienced 26 fires and has 32 fire stations.
“They did what they could.”
Two vehicles were completely destroyed in the blaze. There has not yet been any report of fatality or injury.
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