More Bitou fires claim informal homes
Fires sweeping through informal settlements in Plettenberg Bay have in recent months become a regular occurrence with six more homes being destroyed in Bossiesgif and five in Kwanokuthula recently.
Bitou municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu said that the Bossiesgif fire broke out on 15 September, gutting six homes and damaging another two structures. The following day, five homes were destroyed and two damaged when a fire swept through an area in Kwanokuthula.
Bitou firefighters responded swiftly and were able to stop the fires spreading further. The causes of the two incidents are not yet known.
This came on the heels of a fire that swept through Qolweni the previous week. Bitou Municipality's communications team said the fire started in the informal settlement on 2 September. Local fire services responded swiftly and managed to contain the fire just after 18:00. This was followed by mop-up operations.
The municipality is also providing emergency relief to those affected.
Fires spreading through informal settlements in Bitou have become an annual occurrence during the colder months of the year when heating becomes an issue.
More than 36 people were left destitute after a fire ripped through the same area on 31 July. Last year, more than 140 locals lost their homes in fires ravaging the community.
The year before, more than 90 homes were destroyed in just a few days after two fires swept through the area. In 2021, one fire also claimed a life.
This led to the municipality launching a fire safety campaign last year, distributing information about fire safety and what procedures to follow in case of an emergency.