Hundreds of informal settlement residents watched helplessly as a wild fire destroyed their homes in the informal settlement this morning (19 July).
At least 120 shacks were irreparably damaged.
According to the spokesperson of the Honeydew SAPS, Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs, officers of the Honeydew Police drove past Zandspruit at about 9.20am when they saw the smoke. The fire department and EMS arrived shortly after. Residents of Zandspruit were also on scene to remove items from the homes and to help extinguish the fire.
“We suspect that the cause could possibly be illegal cabling, but this will be investigated,” said Jacobs. She added that initially only 72 shacks were on fire but the fire escalated and by noon it was an estimated 120. Jane Mokhethi from the Emthonjeni Community Centre said that they are currently busy making lists of people that lived in the burnt shacks to find out how many were affected and how they could be helped.
No injuries were reported as if yet. The exact cause of the fire will be investigated.
Details: Honeydew SAPS, 011 801 8400.
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