Father killed in shack fire
RESIDENTS of Pooke se Bos informal settlement in Rylands tried in vain to rescue Riedewaan Thomas, who was trapped inside a burning shack yesterday.
The father of a 1-year-old toddler was declared dead on the scene, while his girlfriend Leone Fiellies and his child Waylin Fiellies were uninjured.
About 127 people were left homeless after the fire destroyed 54 shacks.
Thomas was sleeping when the fire started.
Fiellies said she was struggling to cope and heartbroken after Riedewaan’s death because their child would grow up not knowing his father.
“He was a very nice person. I will miss everything about him,” she said.
When the Cape Times visited the area, residents were clearing their site to rebuild their homes.
Zubaira Wilson said she does not know where she will stay as she does not have money to buy building material.
“I lost everything and I am left with the clothing I am wearing. Where I will sleep tonight and the next coming weeks remains a mystery. The City of Cape Town must activate a community hall, where people who have no place to stay can be accommodated,” she said.
Another resident, Eunice Magentu, said she was awakened by loud screams from neighbours. When she got outside, the fire had spread rapidly.
She said the fire started at a shebeen in the area.
She could not salvage any of her belongings due to the flames.
Another resident, Sheldon Michaels, who lived next door to the shebeen, said: “When I woke up all I saw was fire. I could not take my clothes. I just ran out of the house.
“It was too late for me to save anything; all I wanted was to save my life and my wife’s life,” he said.
Michaels said the City of Cape Town failed residents for stopping plans to build houses for them. He said if the community was living in brick houses, not so many houses would be have been affected.
“People want houses because this will happen every time,” he said.
The City had last year told the residents 143 plots would be built early this year on a piece of land the City had bought between Repulse Road and Jane Avenue.
The land was bought from businessman Kantielal Patel to develop housing.
Disaster Risk Management Centre spokesperson Charlotte Powell said the Mustadafin Foundation provided humanitarian relief such as hot meals, food parcels and blankets to those affected.
She said the City’s Solid Waste Management department had removed the fire debris. Building material was then issued to the fire victims.