By Buziwe Nocuze
Residents of the Taiwan informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were left without homes after a fire destroyed more than 40 shacks on Sunday afternoon.
Many lost valuable belongings, food, and documents they could not rescue from the blaze.
Noluvuyo Mfundisi, a resident, said the fire started after an argument when a man allegedly tried to lure the daughter of a neighbour into his shack by offering her gifts.
“We heard that the owner of the shack where the fire started had confronted her neighbour, who had been harassing her daughter,” said Mfundisi.
“We are angry because the neighbour had every right to confront the man, and he had no right to set the shack on fire.”
Another resident, who did not want to be identified, said the man was slapped during the argument.
“There are many stories about how it started,” the resident said.
“Some say it was a fight between a man and his girlfriend; others say it was because of the slap. What we do know is that we are now homeless.”
Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Kama said any help with shelter, food, or clothes for the affected residents would be “greatly appreciated”.
Jermaine Carelse, the Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, said they received the emergency call at 6.35pm.
“A total of 11 fire engines and over 50 firefighters worked to contain the blaze, which was extinguished just after 9pm,” Carelse said.
About 40 shacks were destroyed, and the number of people left homeless is closer to 90. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Pictured above: About 90 residents of the Taiwan informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, were left homeless after a fire broke out after a fight on Sunday afternoon.
Source: Supplied.
