Blaze claims three lives in Cape settlement, another causes chaos

The year has ended in heartache and tragedy for the Western Cape's Masiphumelele community.

Two men and a woman died in a fire at the informal settlement near Kommetjie in the early hours of Saturday.

Crews from the Kommetjie fire station were the first to be dispatched to the fire in Sobukwe Road after being alerted at about 2am.

The city's fire and rescue service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said they had to call for additional support. 

Six fire engines and three water tankers were used to put out the fire just before 6am.

The bodies of the deceased were found in the debris. 

Several structures were also destroyed, displacing a number of families. 

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze, the second in the past few months.

At the end of October a fire swept through the settlement leaving one person dead.

It destroyed 100 dwellings and an estimated 430 people were affected.

Then, in late November, another fire ripped through the settlement, but caused no fatalities.

It did, however, leave 1,800 people homeless.

Meanwhile, on Friday in Paarl an 82-year-old wheel-chair bound woman died when her home was engulfed by fire at about 2.30pm.

Cape Town councillor Angus McKenzie, who lives two streets away, assisted in getting fire and emergency services to the scene, but it was too late.

"I knew the lady, who lived alone. She was very friendly and always helping the poor. For  outings, she would always go to the nearby Spar and sit and chat to people."

In another festive season fire, the Western Cape's Du Noon community has been rocked.

No fatalities have been reported, but the destruction is vast.

According to Ali Sablay of Gift of the Givers, the organisation was on site there on Friday as a fire had destroyed a number of structures. 

“Gift of the Givers teams are busy with assessments, and many community members have lost all of their possessions,” he said, adding, “The mood was sombre with community members rushing out of taxis and running towards the disaster site hoping their homes were still standing.”

Some had thrown themselves on the debris and burst into tears.

“Christmas was already a struggle as some of them had to save to buy new school uniforms and stationery which burnt out in seconds.  These community members have nothing to look forward to this new year but to rebuild their lives.”

On Saturday, Gift of the Givers will distribute urgent humanitarian aid, including hot meals, bottled water, blankets, mattresses, toiletries and baby care packs to this vulnerable community.

TimesLIVE

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.