Khayelitsha blaze leaves hundreds homeless in devastating fire

Hundreds of people were left homeless when a fire swept through Khayelitsha’s Phakamani Road settlement on Sunday, January 4.

So far, no one has reportedly been injured or killed, but according to Gift of the Givers, nearly 200 shacks were destroyed in Tsepe Tsepe.

The organisation said the fire, which started at about 12.30pm, was by far the largest incident recorded over the festive period.

Pictures shared by the organisation show residents, including young children, surveying the damage as shacks lie in ruins all around them.

"Gift of the Givers teams were called in by the local council and community leaders to provide humanitarian assistance," it said on Sunday.

"[At the] Phakamani Road informal settlement in Khayelitsha, a fire swept through the area, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of people homeless. Our teams are currently on the ground as firefighters extinguish the last remaining flare-ups."

Gift of the Givers said it has put together an immediate response team and will distribute relief items over the next few days.

"The exact number of people affected is still being assessed at this early stage; disaster management teams and the community are in the process of registering those affected," he said.

Community leader Xoliswa Peters told IOL they were trying to get access to city facilities to house those affected.

"We are trying to facilitate at the Eyethu Multi‑Purpose Centre and Khayelitsha Resource Centre," Ms Peters said.

"The scene is very bad and the situation extremely painful."

Charlotte Powell, the city's disaster risk management spokesperson, said officials would continue their assessment to determine the full extent of the fire.

Ms Powell said the fire occurred at the Tsepe Tsepe township.

"Approximately 180 structures and 552 people have been affected," she said.

"Gift of Givers is currently providing humanitarian relief.

"Disaster risk management has also reached out to other non-government organisation partners and SASSA for additional assistance.

"[Our] officials are collaborating with local community leadership and religious organisations to arrange emergency sheltering.

"Furthermore, management has activated Informal Settlement Management and National Human Settlements to coordinate efforts in helping affected residents rebuild their structures."