Urgent appeal for aid: Khayelitsha residents in despair as fire displaces over 370 people

While Gift of the Givers (GOTG) and Disaster Risk Management are on the scene assisting Khayelitsha residents after a fire destroyed 177 informal structures, they still remain in need of many bare necessities.

GOTG said that their teams were activated after a fire ripped through the Phakamani Road settlement, “leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of people homeless”.

On Monday, GOTG spokesperson Ali Sablay said that the fire has been the biggest fire of the fire season.

“Yesterday our teams were called in a frantic panic by community leaders and fire victims. When we got on site, we saw it was a huge fire, with over 180 structures burnt out, and the number of people homeless is still being tallied as community leaders and disaster officials are still on the ground.

“We do know there was a state of panic last night as community leaders were trying to put people in halls, but we are very grateful to some churches, friends and family members who took in the affected families,” Sablay said.

Community leader Xoliswa Peters said that the mood on the ground has been bad, as many are feeling frustrated and that people have lost almost everything.

“Some of them were not even in Cape Town. Some of them were not even in their houses, but in work and church. A lot of structures have been destroyed, and about 385 people have been displaced.”

Peters said that they have been depending on GOTG for everything, as they were still busy with verification with the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) team. 

Peters said that they would appreciate any and all donations, such as washing racks, nappies, clothes, and sanitary towels.

DRMC spokesperson, Charlotte Powell, said that they have finalised their assessment following the fire in confirmed that 177 structures were destroyed, with 377 persons affected. 

“The City’s Informal Settlements Management Branch is on site and has approached National Human Settlements to aid rebuilding efforts, although some residents have already started rebuilding their structures. Others are staying with friends and family in the immediate vicinity. 

“In the interim, efforts continue to work along with local community leadership and religious organisations to arrange emergency sheltering. 

“SASSA and the Department of Social Development have arrived on site, and Gift of the Givers too continue to assist with immediate humanitarian relief needs,” Powell said.

“Eskom and the City’s Water and Sanitation Department have been activated to attend to infrastructure damage and restore electricity and water supply, as well as ablution facilities.”

Sablay added that compared to previous years, this fire season has been quieter in terms of fires in the province, which has been a positive sign of communities heeding the call to be more cautious.

“Last year, over this period, we were dealing with close to 40 fires already… We’ve had a relatively quiet fire season. There were some major fires in Imizamo Yethu, Mbekweni (near Paarl), and one in Dunoon as well.”

Sablay said that their teams will be on site to assist the fire victims for the next five to seven days, providing them with food, and extending their services by providing blankets, mattresses and other items.

“Gift of the Givers teams remain on high alert as we know with the strong winds still carrying on.”

He added that many of the fire victims are feeling despair, and that with schools opening next week, many parents are concerned and need assistance with school uniforms and stationery.

Those wanting to assist can contact GOTG at 0800 786 911 or email them [email protected]