9 killed in deadly Christmas fires
Scores left homeless in Imizamo Yethu’s fourth fire this year
IN WHAT has been a deadly Christmas weekend, nine people were killed in fires that swept through parts of Cape Town, leaving thousands of others homeless. A massive fire in Imizamo Yethu tore through the settlement on Saturday night leaving one dead and more than 1 300 homeless. It was the fourth fire this year, the last being just a month ago according to the Hout Bay Civic Association.
Ntombizodwa Jumba, whose son Zubenathi died in the fire, said she couldn’t believe he was gone.
“My son was everything to our family. He was the only one working to support us.
“I don’t know how we are going to survive without him.”
She pleaded with the government to help her family with the burial of her son whom she said she wants buried next to his father in the Eastern Cape.
“I will never see my son again, I will miss him dearly,” she added, holding back tears. His siblings were also distraught. Sister Fundiwe said: “As much as we lost everything, the biggest loss is that of my brother.”
She said when they got to him he was already dead: “I can’t believe we lost him. But I’m more worried about his six-year-old daughter who he’s leaving behind.
“We are asking for proper houses in this area because fires will continue as long as we are still living in shacks.”
The Hout Bay Civic Association has called on the city council to look at putting measures in place in Imizamo Yethu’s Zola
Section to prevent future fires such as using fire proof paint on the new structures.
The city council’s fire and rescue spokesman Theo Layne said: “The cause of the fire is not determined at this stage and the matter has been handed over to the police for investigation.”
Shop owner Tesfahun Elias said he lost everything when his shop caught fire.
“This was my only source of income. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I have to start from scratch so I can support my family.”
Ward councillor Bheki Hadebe said people needed to be provided with proper housing.
He said the only solution was for people to get decent housing.
“I appeal to the city council to provide housing, because this can’t be right. With every summer season there’s fires and in winter there’s flooding.
“And we are tired with what they always tell us that there’s no land when we know there’s land.”
He added some residents were still in the Eastern Cape on holiday and didn’t know that they would not have a home to come back to.
The city council’s fire and rescue services spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said the fire destroyed 300 structures displacing 1 300 people.
“Emergency shelter has been provided at the community hall, and NGO Historical Disadvantaged Individuals, are providing relief. The Department of Human Settlements was on the scene doing assessments,” added Powell.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut confirmed a death inquest case docket had been registered following the death of a man who died in the fire in Imizamo Yethu.
Traut said the circumstances surrounding the matter were under investigation.
While many of the affected residents sat around not knowing what to do, some good Samaritans came to the area to donate food and clothes.
A Hout Bay resident, who wanted to be known only as Michael, said they were willing to help where they could.
“I brought groceries for the families, but I can’t give out R20 000 to my business partner so he can rebuild because the same thing is going to happen again.
“They shouldn’t rebuild. They should be taken to a place with decent housing.”
Those who would like to donate can leave their donations at the Hout Bay police station and at the Hout Bay fire department.