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Metro assesses mass fire damage at Mahlangu settlement
An assessment to determine the extent of the damage and aid needed to help the hundreds of Mahlangu informal settlement residents who lost their homes to a fire in the early hours of Sunday morning is underway.
Sources at the settlement say that close to 400 people were affected, and several were injured in the blaze.
MMC for Human Settlements Ofentse Madzebetela said he visited the charred settlement on Sunday and the metro had begun mobilising support for the affected community.
“While verification processes are underway to determine the extent of the damage, we can confirm that at least 300 people are displaced because of the incident,” said Madzebetela.
“During my visit, I assured the community that the metro will help in this difficult time.”
He said that disaster management teams were deployed in the area along with the teams from his department.
“A Joint Operation Centre comprising relevant departments has been established at Olievenhoutbosch police station to determine the details of how the city will respond in assisting the affected communities.”
He said that in the meantime, three churches volunteered to assist the affected communities with accommodation over the next 48 hours.
“We are calling on anyone who can assist with food, blankets and other essential materials to come forward and lend a helping hand.
Victims of the fire will continue to receive the necessary support from the city.”
Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a fire after residents in the community and from The Reeds reported a large fire in the area just after midnight.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni said that seven patients sustained injuries, from minor burns to smoke inhalation and were transported to a medical facility.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire around 05:00.
“Emergency services responded to the scene after 01:41 and arrived on the scene to find multiple shacks on fire, and immediately started with firefighting operations.”
He said that the cause of the fire was not yet known.
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