About Us	Search	Advertising

	Brought to you by:

A devastating fire that erupted in Masiphu-melele at 01:30 on Sunday morning destroyed 150 shacks and left more than 600 people homeless.

A fierce south-easter hampered the actions of the Fire Brigade, which struggled for four hours to contain the blaze. Johan Minnie, Cape Town Disaster Management spokesperson, says that a few fire-fighters had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

According to residents in the vicinity, the fire broke out after a candle fell over in one resident's shack. "The people say the man ran away and he has not been seen all day," said Nelisa Jange, a community development worker living in the area.

"We have been speaking to Disaster Management since early this morning and food, clothing and building materials are due to arrive soon. We will be alright for tonight, but since a lot of people living here don't have work, we are asking our community to help in any way they can," Jange says.

Patricia Yakhe (26) says that the fire took no more than 20 minutes to reach her shack, which stands about 250 metres and many shacks apart from where the fire originated.

"We just ran into the town. It was very frightening. Everything we had was destroyed but at least we are alive," Yakhe says.

By 10:00 on Sunday, the residents were already rebuilding their homes, with even the youngest children pitching in to help remove rubble and find building material."

. People's Post and Radio CCFM urge residents to donate clothing and bedding for distribution among victims of the fire. Donations can be dropped off at CCFM at 146 Main Road, Muizenberg (tel: 788-9492) or at People's Post's offices in Fish Hoek (Recre?ation Road; tel 782-6016) or Tokai (Old Mutual Building, Main Road; tel: 713-9440).

	Back to top
©