Another shack fire destroyed more than 120 shacks in Taiwan informal settlement, Site C, on Wednesday 29 January and left more than 200 people destitute.
The cause of the incident is still unknown. The fire was the third within a space of a month.
Similar fires broke out at Special Quarter in Langa (“Fire victims appeal for help”, City Vision, 23 January) and SST informal settlement in Town Two (“SST shack fire victims demand houses”, City Vision, 30 January).
READ RELATED | WATCH | Another shack fire hit Taiwan shack dwellers in Site C
Fire victim Luzuko Mgqwagqwane (49) said he lost all his belongings during the incident. He said he needs building material to rebuild his shack.
Mgqwagqwane said he stayed in the area for over a decade. “I have been staying in my shack for 14 years. However, I have been a Taiwan resident for nearly 30 years. I arrived here from the Eastern Cape at a young age. I think I was nine years old. I grew up here staying with my parents,” said Mgqwagqwane, adding that both his parents died. He said there is little development in the area.
Another victim Mandisa Pupa said all they need are houses. “We are tired of staying in shacks. We need proper houses. Our leaders must do something,” she said.
Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama stated that the issue of housing development in Taiwan is unclear.
He said the area was under the N2 Gateway Housing Project which was spearheaded by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlement which is now the Department of Infrastructure.
“The Department of Infrastructure had handed over the project to the City. Everything was almost done by the department in terms of planning, architects etc.
“When the City took over it started everything afresh. So, in simple terms the issue of houses in Taiwan is not clear. I don’t know how far the City is,” said Kama.
