Fire ravages Gugulethu informal settlement, leaving families displaced
Residents of the Barcelona informal settlement assess the aftermath of the devastating fire that destroyed their homes.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
Residents of Barcelona Informal Settlement in Gugulethu have been forced to start over again after a blaze ripped through their homes on Tuesday morning.
According to the victims, the fire started at a neighbour's shack at about 6am and spread to the surrounding shacks. Thankfully, no one was injured. However, the flames destroyed eight shacks, leaving 18 people displaced.
Fire victim Lusanda Femele, 31, had to watch on helplessly as her home burned, leaving her with nothing except the clothes on her back.
She said: “The fire started at the neighbour’s house; we heard that apparently the plug blew and there was no one in the house.
“I just saw fire, but managed to leave my house before it spread. I am OK, but I lost everything. We now have to start all over.
“We were just two people living in my house, but my neighbours have children who attend school, and now they have nothing.
“I don’t know where I am going to live now. I have not figured it out yet. I have never had this happen to me.”
Another victim, Tobias Lugambo, said that he is devastated.
He said: “I was at home at the time of the fire. I don’t know how it happened or where it started, but it destroyed everything. This is not a nice feeling; it is a stressful situation because now we need to rebuild our lives, but with what? I am upset.”
Councillor Betty Duli-Mkinase stated that this is the first time a fire has occurred in the area.
Duli-Mkinase explained: “According to the victims, where the fire started, the brother took the child to the transport, then the sister noticed there was a fire outside by another shack that is in their yard, but they are not sure what started the fire.
“We are grateful that no one was injured, but all the families affected lost everything.
She added that her soup kitchen, Siyakhula Europe Community Kitchen, will help the victims with something to eat.
Duli-Mkinase said: “My soup kitchen has come on board to help the families with something to eat. We gave them breakfast and will be providing supper again.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire Service, said that the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.
Carelse reported: “The incident was reported at around 6.20am as shacks alight in Barcelona Informal Settlement, Gugulethu, on Tuesday, March 10.
“Several crews were dispatched to the scene, and firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the blaze by 7.50am.
“Eight structures were destroyed, leaving a total of 18 persons displaced. No injuries were reported, and the cause is unknown at this stage.”