One dead, children left homeless after fire destroys 60 shacks
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the blaze broke out at about 4 am in the Malacca Road informal settlement.
A devastating shack fire that tore through an informal settlement near Red Hill Cemetery in the early hours of Saturday has left one person dead and dozens of families, including children, destitute after 60 homes were destroyed.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said the blaze broke out at about 4 am in the Malacca Road informal settlement in Ward 110, prompting urgent intervention from emergency teams.
Duma said he received distress calls from a community leader shortly after the fire started and immediately activated an integrated disaster response involving all three spheres of government to assist affected residents.
ALSO READ | Durban shack fire claims one life and destroys 60 shacks
“Our thoughts are especially with the children who have been exposed to the extreme cold during this difficult period,” said Duma.
He said the fire destroyed 60 shacks, displacing scores of residents and leaving many without shelter or possessions.
Emergency and disaster management teams from the eThekwini Municipality managed to contain the blaze before it spread further.
“We salute eThekwini Municipality Emergency and Disaster teams for once again extinguishing the fire immediately. Every second and every hour were dedicated towards the prevention of what could have been severe devastation with many other lives lost,” Duma said.
One person died in the fire. Authorities are now trying to trace the relatives of the deceased, who has been identified only by the surname Ntuli.
Duma said officials were working with community leaders and neighbours to locate the victim’s family.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family. The death is being investigated by the SAPS,” he said.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Devastating Pietermaritzburg flat fire leaves families homeless
A multidisciplinary relief team has been deployed to support affected residents.
The team includes officials from provincial Human Settlements, led by head of department Max Mbili, as well as officials from eThekwini Disaster Management, Human Settlements and the national Department of Human Settlements.
Relief efforts are expected to focus on emergency shelter, humanitarian assistance and support for families who lost everything in the blaze.
