Two die in shack fires

2003-07-07 12:13

Cape Town - Two people died and 71 shacks were gutted in informal settlements on the Cape Peninsula on Sunday and early on Monday, Cape Town's disaster services reported.

Disaster management co-ordinator Johan Minnie said one person died and nine structures were destroyed when a fire broke out at Masipumelele near Fish Hoek about 01:00 on Monday.

Minnie said the Salvation Army would provide blankets and food parcels to 20 people who were affected by the blaze.

Two hours later a fire gutted 55 shacks at Happy Valley near Kuils River affecting about 200 people. The Salvation Army would those left homeless.

Minnie said people had started rebuilding their homes from early on Monday morning.

In a third fire shortly after 06:00 in Site B in Khayelitsha five structures were destroyed.

The other fire in which a person died was in the Joe Slovo settlement in Langa in which two shacks were gutted on Sunday.

- SAPA