Shack fires claim too many lives: iLIVE
Image by: ESA ALEXANDER
It is tragic that four more people died at the weekend in Gauteng shack fires. In total, nine people have died in shack fires this month, and 18 since the start of the year.
Many more have been injured and permanently scarred for life by shack fires.
The provision of electricity would help stop these fires, which are often caused by candles and paraffin stoves.
In the interim, only safe paraffin stoves that will not cause a fire if overturned should be sold.
Children should not be left alone in shacks, and there should be spaces between shacks so that fires don't spread . Shack-dwellers also need to be taught how best to extinguish a fire.
More than 1500 people have been displaced by the 25 shack fires that have been reported in Gauteng this year.
Gauteng should follow the Western Cape's example and provide emergency housing assistance when fires occur.
I will be proposing in the legislature that emergency housing kits be provided so people can speedily rebuild their shacks.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.