18 April 20201
Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement
Fire renders 49 families homeless
A fire that broke out in the early hours of the morning today in Cato Crest (Marikana) has taken the life of a 38-year-old woman, Nomasamson Dlamini, and injured a 16-year-old, Cebo Mpiliso, who is in a critical condition in hospital. More than 45 households were affected by this fire. Nomasamson Dlamini was the mother of two children, who are at her home in Lesotho.
Winter is upon us and many people will be trying to find ways to keep themselves warm. For those living in shack settlements this is very difficult as we have to watch our homes not to be burnt by fires. The situation in Cato Crest at the moment is difficult as people have lost everything including the food for the month. Their homes have become ashes, they do not have materials to rebuild their homes at the moment.Shack fires start in the night and in the early morning when people have nowhere to go and nowhere to seek help. In most cases there is no response from emergency services. People’s home burn until there is completely nothing left. Often even the Disaster Management takes a long time to respond to these fires.
The community has been struggling to get the settlement electrified by the municipality. Promises have been made but have not been honoured. We are often blamed for being irresponsible or abusing alcohol that results in the cause of these fires.
However, the fact of the matter is that we are burning because of the conditions we live under. We are burning because basic services are not provided to us by politicians who see us as banks for votes. We continue to live in the shacks of indignity. We do not count in the eyes of this government. We are only important when it is time for elections.
Cato Crest has been facing a lot of repression from the municipality. The area where the fire took place is the Nqobile section of the Marikana occupation, named after the late Nqobile Nzuza who was shot and killed by a police officer during a protest against evictions.
We are calling for people who can to assist this community that is destitute. Many of the people who are affected are women. We will need food, clothing and building materials.
We also note that the Municipality discriminates against people born in other countries when, usually after years of struggle, some services are provided. For instances when the Foreman Road settlement was eventually electrified after a long struggle residents who were Lesotho nationals were left out. We reject this as immoral discrimination, and a tactic by the state to divided the oppressed.
Abahlali recognises every person as a human being and the pain of the Dlamini family is our pain
Duduzile Hlephu 078 209 5908
Siphokuhle Makhwenkana 073 222 9369
Thapelo Mohapi 074 774 4219
Mqapheli Bonono 073 067 3274