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AFTERMATH: Resident of Lusaka informal settlement in Old Crossroads, Cape Town, clean up after a fire razed many shacks. PHOTO: UNATHI OBOSE

The cause of the fire is unknown. ANC councillor Else Depoutch said the fire had forced them to accommodate affected people in the local community hall.

"People had to sleep in the Lusaka community hall and the City of Cape Town provided them with food and blankets. We are still waiting for the city's disaster risk management to provide them with building materials so they can start rebuilding their shacks," Depoutch said.

Cape Town disaster risk management spokesman Wilfred Solomons confirmed the incident. He said that the overhead electricity network infrastructure was also damaged by fire and had affected the power supply to the area.

"The smoke affected the visibility of motorists driving on the N2 and that had caused congestion on the highway," Solomons said.

He said the city's disaster response teams were on the scene coordinating plans to ensure that humanitarian aid and building materials are provided to those affected.

"The cause of the fire is as yet unknown and the authorities are still investigating," Solomons said.

Victim Funeka Mcaphukelo, 43, said she did not know how she was going to rebuild her shack.

"I lost all my belongings in the fire. I'm only left with the clothes I'm wearing now," she said.

Mcaphukelo said she was sleeping when the fire started.

"I heard people shouting fire, fire. I jumped up and ran outside. I did not even get the chance to go back to take my clothes," she said.

Nqabisile Liwa lambasted Depoutch, accusing him of neglecting Lusaka residents.

"I've been staying here since 1999. I registered for a house a long time ago, but I'm still staying here. Instead, young people are allocated houses," Liwa said.

Depoutch rubbished the allegations. He said: "Lusaka is situated on the road reserve area and we can't build houses there."

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Tue May 21 07:33:44 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 20, 2012

Tshatsha

"People had to sleep in the Lusaka community hall and the City of Cape Town provided them with food and blankets. We are still waiting for the city's disaster risk management to provide them with building materials so they can start rebuilding their shacks," Depoutch said.

Ao bathong! Why should they give them materials to build shacks again? Why not build them RDP houses to avoid these to happen again. Someone in the North West was given R16 million rands to build one house.
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Jan 20, 2012

sekhebereshe

not again...this must be traumatizing for the kids...
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Jan 20, 2012

Sifebe

build shacks again and burn them again.Does it make sense?
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Jan 20, 2012

WarrenG

Well now they can build houses there instead!
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Jan 29, 2012

nofire

There is a fireproof shack available that can become a low cost house. Government just is not interested in making use of it, these shacks can be replaced with No-Fire's fireproof shacks and the problem will be solved, yes they wont have a house, but they will have something a lot more homely.
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