The City of Tshwane has joined forces with various stakeholders and launched a relief plan to help the victims of the deadly fire that destroyed shacks at the weekend.
The blaze broke out at the Cemetery View informal settlement near the Woodlands Mall in Pretoria east on Saturday evening.
So far, at least three people have been confirmed to have died in the blaze while about 2 000 shack dwellers have been displaced.
According to Tshwane’s acting communications head Selby Bokaba, the fire engulfed 300 shacks and left three people dead – two adults and a child.
“The city’s emergency services department [ESD] managed to extinguish the fire, unfortunately three people have been confirmed to have lost their lives,” said Bokaba in a statement.
“Roads and transport department has made available six buses to transport the victims of the fire to temporary accommodation venues arranged at the Stanza Bopape Hall in Mamelodi east, as well as at the community hall in Mamelodi west.”
Bokaba further said the municipality is in negotiations with churches within region six to accommodate more victims of the blaze.
“Tshwane’s community and social development department and ESD are coordinating intergovernmental social relief efforts together with other structures such as Sassa [SA Social Security Agency], social department and human settlements to ensure that the victims’ plight receives the necessary consideration.”
The cause of the fire has not been established and the scene has been handed over to the SA Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
Tshwane emergency management services spokesperson Charles Mabaso told Sunday World on Monday that a process to move people to shelters will commence in the afternoon.
“We will give a detailed update during the cause of the day on the donations and the way forward in terms of what will happen to the people who have lost their homes,” said Mabaso.
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