A fire continues to rage in Joe Slovo, Langa, despite despatched resources by the City of Cape Town.
This is the third fire to flatten informal settlements this week alone. A fire left a person dead and 200 homeless in Nomzamo and another 100 in Masiphumelele, near Kommetjie.
JP Smith, MEC of Safety in the Western Cape, said before 21h00, a fire broke out in the informal settlement of Langa.
” With 6 fire engines and another 6 water tankers despatched, the fire still spread rapidly.
Additional fire appliances from across the city, from various stations, have been despatched to assist.”
He also said while firefighters were battling an inferno, desperate residents cut the main fire lines, to gain access to water, to protect their own shelters.
Residents took to social media to express shock and empathy, such as Yanelisa Nogemame, who said “imagine people on holiday and getting calls that they have nothing because of fire .
And it seems like that fire is going to spread throughout the whole area.”
The fire is not yet under control and it is unknown if any person has suffered injuries or how many shelters were affected.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned against high fire danger conditions for the Cape (Western, Eastern and Northern) for the Day of Goodwill.
Picture from video made by local Councillor, Angus Mckenzie