Community organisations and some big businesses have come out in support of the fire victims affected by the recent shack fire in Joe Slovo informal settlement.
Since the incident occurred on Saturday 16 April, activists and organisations had dedicated their time giving support to the victims.
On Saturday 23 April members of Urban Rural Development and Capacity Building Project (URDCBP) in Langa visited Joe Slovo and donated clothes, food parcels and blankets to the shack fire victims.
URDCBP was established to teach people, particularly women, garden skills to alleviate poverty in Langa and the surrounding communities.
The project’s senior administrator Nokubonga Mdloyi said they were touched by the incident.
“Many people were left with nothing after the inferno. As an organisation instead of folding our arms we decided to joined hands with the City of Cape Town in an effort to assist them. We provided them with clothes, blankets and food parcels,” said Mdloyi.
She described the situation at Joe Slovo as appalling as there are people who now do not have shelters to stay in.
Shoprite Group Sustainability Manager Snajeev Raghubir said the Shoprite Mobile Soup Kitchen is serving warm meals to Langa community members affected by the devastating fire.
He said the essential food parcels containing rice, pasta, maize meal and other non-perishables will also be distributed to displaced families.
“Shoprite will always avail its resources to assist disaster-stricken communities. We remain in close contact with the relevant organisations assisting with relief efforts in Langa and will assist for as long as necessary,” said Raghubir.
One of the shack fire victims Nonkululeko Nkunkwana thanked all people and organisations that are supporting the victims during this difficult time.
“I’ve lost everything in the shack fire but with the help of URDCBP and other organisations I have clothes and food,” she said adding that she is currently staying with her boyfriend.