Africa-Press – South-Africa. One of the residents of Polar Park informal settlement in Phillipi, which has recently been dealt a further blow after yet another fire wiped out homes last Thursday, says he only had three minutes to save his life.
Almost 400 people have been left displaced following the devastating fire.
Speaking to News24, Samkelo Sokweni, 40, said he was relaxing at home when the lights went off.
“I was shocked at what I was seeing and remember that I only had about three minutes to save myself before the fire hit my home. I managed to grab a few things before the fire reached my house. Luckily my kids are still away on holiday, so they don’t have to see this,” Sokweni added.
Zanele Dyan, 31, said she was bathing when she heard people shouting “fire” and when she went outside, she saw how the wind had helped the fire spread even faster through the houses.
“I only managed to leave with the pyjamas I was wearing, and grabbed my ID document, everything else I lost in the fire. My kid’s school stationery and clothes were also all burnt. I’ve been staying at a friend’s place for now but it’s not nice to know my home is gone. I wish the City would be quicker in helping us build our homes,” Dyan said.
Wendy Peter, 37, said she recalls how she first saw one shack on fire and then saw the fire quickly spread to her neighbour’s home.
“I lost everything from the first fire and now I’m still left with nothing. We were told there is temporary accommodation for us. I wasn’t able to rebuild my home yet because now this fire came.
“I have five kids and all their stationery and school clothes burnt out, that for me is one of the hardest parts of this fire,” Peter added.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said they were alerted at 14:15 about structures alight next to the Golden Arrow Depot in Philippi.
“Several crews were on scene with eight firefighting appliances and managed to contain the fire at about 16:30 – after 18:00, the blaze was extinguished, and several informal structures were destroyed leaving many residents displaced.
“However, no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is unknown,” Carelse said.
Disaster Risk Management (DRM) officials completed their assessment of the fire and have since deplored various departments to the site to assist residents.
“City of Cape Town Electricity and Water anc Sanitation will attend to damaged infrastructure, while Solid Waste will remove fire debris. The Department of Home Affairs was also activated to assist residents with identity documents,” said DRM spokesperson Charlotte Powell.
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers (GoTG) spokesperson Ali Sablay said they have been on the scene to help those in need since the fire broke out.
“From what community told us, the fire allegedly occurred when there was load shedding from 14:00 to 16:00 and as soon as the lights came back on the shacks caught alight,” Sablay added.
Meanwhile, community leader Odwa Gcora said residents were still waiting on the City to provide them with building materials to rebuild their homes.
“No one has rebuilt their homes, they are still homeless,” Gcora said.
“The City came over the weekend to clear what the fire has destroyed so people weren’t able to collect spare parts to use to rebuild.
“Many of the residents have chosen to sleep with friends and family while others are staying on-site.”
Gcora added:
GoTG said they have been providing hot food, baby essentials, toiletries, and whatever other assistance may be needed.
“Residents are really not happy with the government, many of them are frustrated because they say year after year they have to deal with these devastating fires,” Sablay added.
“They have been chanting in groups that government needs to come on board to assist them because they cannot continue to live like this,” he said.
The recent fire comes exactly a week after 247 homes were destroyed, leaving 760 people homeless on New Year’s Day.
In that incident, a woman sustained fatal burn wounds when a fire swept through the informal Settlement.
City Fire and Rescue service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said at the time that the cause of the fire was not known. However, Polar Park committee leader, Teenage Mtiyane told News24 that the fire started at the deceased woman’s house.
“She died inside her house with the gas stove [on] and that is how the fire started and spread,” he said. “Unfortunately, the wind also played its part in spreading the flames to other parts of the community, and has left more than 200 people without [shelter],” Mtiyane said.
GoTG said they will be on scene assisting residents until the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) kicks in to help residents affected.
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