About 4 000 people have been left homeless by a fire on Sunday that killed six residents of Langa’s Joe Slovo township, Cape Town emergency services said on Monday.
Spokesperson Johan Minnie said the homeless are being housed in two halls in the area. A number of NGO’s had donated blankets and food.
It now appeared that six residents succumbed while two others were unaccounted for.
The fire started at about 3pm on Sunday afternoon and spread quickly in the heat and the wind, burning about 1 000 shacks. Some residents remained at their razed shacks for fear of losing their site in the settlement when rebuilding begins.
Minnie said city engineers would take this opportunity to upgrade the area, and would make sure there were fire breaks and fire-fighting equipment.
Minnie appealed for donations of corrugated iron, wood and building materials, as well as food and blankets. He said donations could be dropped off at the municipal depot in Bhunga Avenue, Langa. – Sapa