Hundreds of families were left without a home in Cape Town, following the devastating fire that charred communities in Langa, this past weekend.
What caused the Langa fire?
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the inferno that burned down homes and destroyed personal belongings in the Joe Slovo informal settlement.
According to the City of Cape Town, rescue officials were alerted of the Langa fire on Saturday evening. While emergency rescue services reacted quickly in containing the blaze by 22:00 that evening, it had damaged more than 100 informal housing structures.
UPDATE LANGA FIRE – 22:00 | At 20:52 this evening I received the update from officials on the ground that the fire in Langa had been contained. The situation remains tense and emergency personnel are vigilant to any flare ups. It is estimated that about 100 structures are damaged pic.twitter.com/FpObG1aA0M
— Dr Zahid Badroodien (@ZahidBadroodien) April 16, 2022
Acting mayor Eddie Andrews confirmed, in a statement, that a total of 260 informal homes were destroyed, displacing more than 767 Joe Slovo residents.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
“It has been challenging, but I commend everyone who has had a hand in extinguishing the fire and ensuring that no lives were lost, and who have been on scene around the clock since, to provide support and relief to the residents who have lost everything,” Andrews added.
Here’s how you can make donations
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde issued a statement on Monday, calling on the public to assist, in anyway possible, in providing aid to families affected by the Langa fire.
“No family should have to suffer such a loss. I also commend the City of Cape Town & stakeholders on their efforts to support those impacted,” he wrote in a tweet.
1/2 My heart goes out to all those families affected by the recent fires in Langa over the Easter weekend. No family should have to suffer such a loss. I also commend the City of Cape Town & stakeholders on their efforts to support those impacted. pic.twitter.com/Jh9dBM1t0J
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) April 18, 2022
Thus far, a concerted effort is underway to provide immediate aid to those affected by the devastating fire. The City of Cape Town will assess the damage and revert with a budget allocation for repairs but, in the interim, Andrews confirmed, per Times Live, that water pipes will be replaced and ablution facilities will be provided to ensure basic needs are met.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) as well as Gift of the Givers have been providing meals and sanitary packs to affected households and the City has made a church hall available for the homeless.
If you are looking to make donations to victims of the Langa fire, you can contact the following organisations:
- The Urban Rural Development (083 521 0328);
- City of Cape Town housing department, corner of Langalibalele Drive and Lerotholi Avenue, Langa, and;
- Mustadafin Foundation (076 422 1667), corner of Heide and Antelope Court, Bridgetown.