- More than 400 people were left homeless and destitute after more than 100 shacks burnt down at Mangaung informal settlement in Lower Crossroads the evening of Sunday 17 March.
- The cause of the fire was still unknown, and no injuries or casualties were reported.
- The City’s Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said firefighters were alerted at approximately 02:45 of informal structures alight in Mvubu Road, Philippi.
More than 400 people were left homeless and destitute after more than 100 shacks burnt down at Mangaung informal settlement in Lower Crossroads the evening of Sunday 17 March. The cause of the fire was still unknown, and no injuries or casualties were reported.
Shack-fire victim Nokubonga Zangqa (39) said she was asleep when it started, and she virtually lost everything. “I heard people screaming ‘fire, fire!’, jumped out of the bed and grabbed a gown before going out. When I looked outside I saw big flames coming. I managed to organise a few bags with clothes before running out.”
She said other belongings, such as a refrigerator, microwave, two beds, a cupboard and so on were consumed by the conflagration. The mother of two said she didn’t know where she and her family were going to sleep. She said they were lucky no-one was harmed by the flames.
The City’s Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said firefighters were alerted at approximately 02:45 of informal structures alight in Mvubu Road, Philippi.
“A total of 13 firefighting resources were on the scene, with more than 40 firefighters battling the blaze that was fanned by a very strong wind. By 08:40, firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the fire. Our initial estimate is the fire destroyed more than 100 informal structures, leaving more than 400 people displaced.”
He said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined and Law Enforcement had been deployed to ensure crowd control.