Hundreds of people have been left homeless after a fire destroyed at least 100 shacks in the Kaya Mandi informal settlement near Stellenbosch on Sunday, SABC radio news reported on Monday.
The blaze started when a paraffin stove toppled over in the evening.
The fire was fanned by the strong wind and it took firefighters about three hours to extinguish it.
Apparently this is the third fire to hit an informal settlement in and around Cape Town since the start of the holiday season. There were no casualties reported.
On Sunday night, local welfare and community organisations provided assistance and have made an appeal for donations of food and blankets, the SABC reported.
In another fire, fifteen shacks were destroyed at Pearly Beach in the Western Cape, the African National Congress said on Sunday.
Cameron Dugmore, provincial Minister of Education and ANC MP in the Overstrand constituency, said in a statement that he received a call from Hendrik Latola, a community leader who lives in Eluxolweni, an informal settlement in the area.
”He informed me that 15 shacks had burned down and that the community were deeply concerned at the impact of the gusting winds on the spread of the fire.
”Latola requested that a helicopter be deployed to assist the firefighters. The Overstrand Municipality appear to have the fire near the settlement under control.”
Dugmore said he then called provincial minister of local government and housing, Marius Fransman and informed him of the request for helicopter support.
He said a helicopter arrived in the area to assist in fighting the fire shortly afterwards.
”I have also appealed to provincial minister Fransman to support the community with blankets, building materials and emergency supplies.”
Dugmore said no one was injured in the fire. – Sapa