WATCH: Fire destroys 60 shacks at Booysens informal settlement
According to one of the residents, Nonkululeko Gwangqa, the fire was caused by an unattended paraffin stove and when it broke out they tried defusing the fire with water buckets and sand, but with no success.
BOOYSENS informal settlement was left distraught after a blazing fire broke out, destroying 60 shacks, on May 27.
According to one of the residents, Nonkululeko Gwangqa, the fire was caused by an unattended paraffin stove and when it broke out they tried defusing the fire with water buckets and sand, but with no success.
“Everything happened so quickly. While we were trying to prevent the fire from spreading, the wind caused the fire to quickly spread to other shacks. People from other neighbouring areas came running to help and trying to stop the fire,” said Gwangqa.
The lady who left the stove unattended is believed to have gone to the local shop to purchase eggs and teabags when the fire broke out.
“We aren’t blaming her for what took place, in this settlement every year something of this nature happens. The ward councillor should come to our aid and have us removed,” said Gwangqa.
Affected residents had to ask for accommodation from unaffected residents and local churches. On May 28, disaster management handed out single beds and buckets of groceries. Residents now have to rebuild their shacks and are saying they don’t have money to rebuild and that they will have to go to loan sharks.
When the COURIER contacted Ward 124 councillor Mongameli Mnyameni about the blazing fire, he stated: “I was there, I phoned the firefighters and the emergency medical services (EMS). I have arranged temporary accommodation for about 30 families in one of the churches there. I also arranged for accommodation in and a bus to Alexander. But the residents couldn’t go because it is too far for them to travel from Alexander to work. They decided to sleep in the church building. Those who lost their identity documents will be assisted at home affairs. There are some churches who promised to help with clothes. Disaster management donated blankets and food.”
Tyrell Meyers, proportional pepresentation (PR) councillor for the DA
Booysens informal settlement is one of over 200 informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg. It’s located on Prasa-owned land. However, things like this does not get the attention of Prasa anymore, given their own internal problems as a state-owned enterprise. Given the housing backlog, the mayor is trying to get private developers to refurbish a lot of the inner-city buildings to provide accommodation for our communities, as well as young students given that 3 000 people migrate to the city every month.
The city is trying to roll-out provisions of basic services to informal settlements.
WATCH:
10 ways to prevent shacks from burning
1 Keep a close eye on paraffin stoves. Don’t cook near a window with a curtain.
2 Make sure the stove does not fall over, which may cause a fire and burn children.
3 Make sure candles cannot fall over. Don’t go to sleep with candles still burning.
4 Watch out for discarded cigarette butts.
5 Be aware of the dangers of illegal and faulty electricity connections, which also cause fires.
6 Keep a bucket handy to fill with water so you can extinguish flames easily.
7 Keep a bucket of sand to put out paraffin fires.
8 Build dwellings a good distance (at least 3m) apart to prevent fires from spreading. Make sure this space is kept open.
9 Teach children about the dangers of fire.
10 Keep roads and access to dwellings clear at all times.
*Tips provided by DispatchLive
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