More than 40 people were left homeless when the fire broke out in Kanana informal settlement, Gugulethu, on Wednesday 26 October.
According to the residents, the fire was started by a “jealous boyfriend”. It is alleged that he set the shack on fire after he discovered that the girlfriend was not home when he visited her in the evening.
One of the fire victims, who named herself as Wewe for fear of victimisation, said they are facing a mammoth task to rebuild their shacks.
She appealed to local businesspeople to help them with food and clothes.
“It is tough now. I have nothing left. The shack fire started at about 20:00 and at that time I was at my friend’s place in Barcelona. I received a call from one of my friends in Kanana informing me that there was a shack fire. I ran all the way to my shack and when I arrived it was already down,” said Wewe.
Like the majority of the victims, she currently lives with her friend in Barcelona.
“Other people managed to rebuild their shacks. But the majority of us are struggling to rebuild them because we are unemployed,” she stated.
Gugulethu police spokesperson Sgt Sindisiwe Ngqele said an arson case was opened and the police are investigating.
Ngqele confirmed that the incident was connected to domestic violence. However, she declined to elaborate on the allegations.