Cape Town fires expose DA's lack of service delivery to the poor

Michael Andisile Mayalo

Cape Town has been grappling with yet another series of destructive fires that have wreaked havoc in some of its poorest communities. As the flames engulfed informal settlements, the City of Cape Town’s response has come under intense scrutiny, with many residents and critics accusing the DA-led government of failing to deliver essential services and providing a delayed, ineffective response.

The recent fires that have devastated large parts of the Cape Flats, including informal settlements in Khayelitsha, Dunnoon, and Masiphumelele, have underscored the growing discontent surrounding the City’s handling of disaster preparedness and crisis management. For years, Cape Town’s residents, particularly those in marginalised communities, have raised concerns about inadequate fire-fighting resources, a lack of proper infrastructure, and delayed responses to emergencies.

These fires have illuminated how the DA’s governance model, which often boasts about Cape Town being a “world-class city,” is unable to adequately address the needs of the most vulnerable sectors of the population. One of the most critical issues highlighted by the recent fires is the city’s lack of investment in fire prevention and early intervention strategies in informal settlements. These areas are particularly vulnerable due to the densely packed housing made from highly flammable materials like corrugated iron and plastic.

The City of Cape Town has long been criticised for failing to improve the fire resilience of these communities. Despite the city’s growing wealth and economic power, these areas remain under-resourced and are often left to fend for themselves in the face of disasters. According to reports from various community members, the response from the City of Cape Town’s emergency services has been far too slow.

In several instances, firefighting teams arrived after the fires had already caused widespread destruction. This delayed response is particularly problematic when considering that many of the fires spread rapidly due to high winds, making it difficult for emergency responders to control the situation once it escalates. In areas such as Masiphumelele, informal housing is densely packed. The lack of access roads and water infrastructure only exacerbates the problem, preventing firefighters from reaching key locations in time. These systemic issues have left many residents feeling abandoned and questioning the City’s commitment to their welfare.

One of the key concerns residents and community organisations raised is the issue of inadequate resources allocated to firefighting efforts. The City of Cape Town has faced criticism for not prioritizing the safety and well-being of vulnerable communities when allocating its budget. The firefighting services in these areas are stretched thin, with too few resources and personnel to effectively manage the frequency and scale of fires in these communities. This has led to some calling for a greater emphasis on preventative measures such as fire breaks, improved building regulations, and community-based fire management programs. Instead, these communities have been left to suffer repeated tragedies without meaningful intervention from the City.

The City of Cape Town has been accused of neglecting fire safety education in these areas, leaving many residents unprepared to respond effectively when fires break out. In communities where fire risks are high, basic fire prevention awareness could make the difference between a near-miss and a disaster. However, in Cape Town’s poor neighbourhoods, there has been little investment in education or infrastructure designed to help residents protect themselves and their property.

The DA’s governance of Cape Town has also been called into question due to the party’s perceived focus on the city’s wealthier areas. The disparities between the services provided to affluent neighbourhoods and those provided to informal settlements have been stark. In wealthier areas, residents often have access to well-funded fire stations, quick response times, and modern infrastructure. In contrast, poorer communities often feel like an afterthought, with limited support when disaster strikes.

Critics of the DA have argued that the party’s policy of prioritizing the development of affluent parts of Cape Town while neglecting poorer areas is rooted in an unwillingness to confront deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities. While Cape Town’s tourism industry continues to thrive and its affluent suburbs see continued development, the City’s poor communities face inadequate public services, leaving them vulnerable to disaster. The political leadership of the DA must now confront the pressing issue of how to manage Cape Town’s growth in a way that balances the needs of all its citizens. While the DA’s mayoral team has consistently boasted about their successes in creating a “clean” and “efficient” city, these recent fires expose the significant gaps in their approach. If Cape Town is to truly be a world-class city, it must demonstrate the ability to ensure the safety and security of all its residents, especially those who live in its most marginalized areas.As the fires in Cape Town continue to expose the failures of service delivery in poor communities, it is clear that there needs to be a fundamental shift in the City’s priorities. The DA must take immediate action to address the glaring gaps in fire safety, disaster preparedness, and emergency response. Only by prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable residents will the City of Cape Town be able to rebuild trust and ensure that all its citizens, regardless of their economic standing, feel safe and supported in the face of disaster.

*Mayalo is an independent writer, analyst, and commentator