MORE than 200 Duncan Village residents, including an elderly woman, were left without homes after their shacks were destroyed by fire yesterday morning.
The incident happened just after midnight in Florence Street squatter camp and left 38 shacks destroyed, with more than 200 people including children homeless.
Residents, including 72-year-old Nobomvu Mangobo woke up as the shacks caught fire.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Mangobo said she did not know how she survived the inferno.
“I am left with the clothes that I am wearing and to be honest I don’t know how I managed to escape that fire,” said the frail-looking Mangobo. She lost everything in that fire.
“My only source of income is a government grant and I don’t know how am I going to get clothes and material to rebuild my shack.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the solution to shack fires for the metro “is to build decent human settlement” for people currently living in shacks.
“There are currently housing developments under way, where the metro is relocating people from shacks to,” said Matebese. “However the challenge is that once we relocate the person and destroy the shack, in no time at all, another shack is built on that spot. We are trying to find solutions to this problem.”
Some residents said it was not the first time they had lost their belongings in shack fires.
Vuyisile Mkhatshwa said it was the 10th time his shack caught fire in the notorious area, known for such fires which at times claim lives.
“This is bad for this community. There is nothing we can do if our municipality is not helping by building us houses. This is the 10th time that my shack is burnt into ashes, I just cannot progress in life because of this,” said Mkhatshwa.
Mother of two, Rata Tweni, also lost her belongings.
“We woke up when we heard the noise that the shacks were burning and immediately my children started coughing as they inhaled smoke,” said Tweni.
“For me this is the sixth time that this has happened and all I want is a proper house now.”
Lumka Damisa said she would struggle to find building material to build her shack while Khanyisa Hlalapi said they would rebuild their shacks using the charred corrugated iron sheets.
Many residents were seen clearing sites in the hope that a Good Samaritan would come and help them. Others like 72-year-old Mangobo were not sure of what to do.
By yesterday it was not clear if the council would help the victims with accommodation.
“I might spend another night in the cold as I am not sure who will give me something to eat or clothes to wear,” said Mangobo.
A local businesswoman, Thembeka Mbali, donated clothes and blankets to a few people and also handed bread to some families.
“When I heard about this I had to run and assist because I have people in the same place who work with me,” said Mbali.
DV fire leaves 200 residents homeless
The incident happened just after midnight in Florence Street squatter camp and left 38 shacks destroyed, with more than 200 people including children homeless.
Residents, including 72-year-old Nobomvu Mangobo woke up as the shacks caught fire.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Mangobo said she did not know how she survived the inferno.
“I am left with the clothes that I am wearing and to be honest I don’t know how I managed to escape that fire,” said the frail-looking Mangobo. She lost everything in that fire.
“My only source of income is a government grant and I don’t know how am I going to get clothes and material to rebuild my shack.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said the solution to shack fires for the metro “is to build decent human settlement” for people currently living in shacks.
“There are currently housing developments under way, where the metro is relocating people from shacks to,” said Matebese. “However the challenge is that once we relocate the person and destroy the shack, in no time at all, another shack is built on that spot. We are trying to find solutions to this problem.”
Some residents said it was not the first time they had lost their belongings in shack fires.
Vuyisile Mkhatshwa said it was the 10th time his shack caught fire in the notorious area, known for such fires which at times claim lives.
“This is bad for this community. There is nothing we can do if our municipality is not helping by building us houses. This is the 10th time that my shack is burnt into ashes, I just cannot progress in life because of this,” said Mkhatshwa.
Mother of two, Rata Tweni, also lost her belongings.
“We woke up when we heard the noise that the shacks were burning and immediately my children started coughing as they inhaled smoke,” said Tweni.
“For me this is the sixth time that this has happened and all I want is a proper house now.”
Lumka Damisa said she would struggle to find building material to build her shack while Khanyisa Hlalapi said they would rebuild their shacks using the charred corrugated iron sheets.
Many residents were seen clearing sites in the hope that a Good Samaritan would come and help them. Others like 72-year-old Mangobo were not sure of what to do.
By yesterday it was not clear if the council would help the victims with accommodation.
“I might spend another night in the cold as I am not sure who will give me something to eat or clothes to wear,” said Mangobo.
A local businesswoman, Thembeka Mbali, donated clothes and blankets to a few people and also handed bread to some families.
“When I heard about this I had to run and assist because I have people in the same place who work with me,” said Mbali.
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