Appeal for help after fires

2003-12-22 12:14

Johannesburg - An appeal has been made to assist hundreds of people who lost their homes and possessions in two separate fires in Johannesburg early on Monday morning.

Two people, Wally Maduna and Sina van Wyk died and 13-year-old Katlego Malatji was injured when a fire raged through the Slovo Park settlement, west of Johannesburg.

At least 270 people were left homeless.

At almost the same time, 20 shacks were burnt down in a fire in the vicinity of Vasco da Gama and Tenth street in Alexandra, north-eastern Johannesburg.

The organisation Children of Fire, which runs projects to prevent fires in the densely populated settlements and helps rehabilitate victims, has appealed for donations including saucepans, stoves, candles, non-perishable food, tin openers, buckets, bedding, clothes and toiletries for the homeless in Slovo Park.

Children also need uniforms, text books and shoes while shack owners needed new timber poles to rebuild their homes once the zinc used for their walls and roofs has cooled.

Three of the organisation's volunteers also lost their homes in the blaze, Jones said in a statement.

In Alexander, the Umashesha Volunteers are collecting goods to help the families in their area.

Organiser Thomas Ranamane said: "We need clothes, food and blankets for about 150 people."

Donations for Slovo Park can be taken to: 111 St Swithin's Avenue, Auckland Park (contact Jones on 011-726-6529) and for Alexander to Ranamane at the old Alexander Police Station in Wynberg (contact Ranamane on 082-692-2590).

Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Malcolm Midgley said the city's disaster management coordinators would also assist the communities.

Police are investigating the cause of the fires.

- SAPA