Help pours in for 15 000 homeless
CAPETONIANS have opened their hearts and wallets to the residents of Hout Bay’s Imizamo Yethu, which on Saturday was devastated by a fire, leaving a family of three dead and 15 000 people homeless.
Anthony Stroebel, who lives in Penzance Estate, next to Imizamo Yethu, set up a crowdfunding campaign on Saturday and within 24 hours had raised R100 000. Yesterday donations had reached R237 000.
“Many people that we know and work with have been devastated by this, losing all their worldly possessions in one fell swoop. Just try and imagine the horror of this, for one second, no home, no clothing, no food (and being) destitute in the blink of an eye,” Stroebel said.
“We (the donations) are going strong. We are going to keep going because there are 15 000 people left destitute.” Mayco member for informal settlements, water and waste services and energy, Xanthea Limberg, said between R25 million to R30m had been budgeted to assist the fire victims. She said due to the scale of the fire, it may take some time before all residents receive their building kits.
Acting mayor Ian Neilson said the victims have been offered temporary relief accommodation in community halls, and a temporary marquee had also been erected to house their belongings. Neilson said water and electricity services were in the process of being reinstated.
From a humanitarian relief perspective, City Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell said the Red Cross Society and NGOs had distributed 20 000 meals, 20 000 blankets and 600 baby packs. She said the Red Cross Society provided an extra 1 000 mattresses.
About 120 pupils at Silikamva High School were affected by the fire, but local companies contributed to replacing their uniforms and school books.
Yesterday almost R500 000 was raised by members of the public following several appeals for help.
Nandipha Breakfast, whose home was razed by the inferno, said: “The community of Hout Bay is diverse and working hand in hand regardless of class and colour.”